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| Social Care Minister, Steve Blackett??(right) and Permanent Secretary, Bruce Alleyne (second right) listen attentively to??Natazi Sitarim (left)??and Helen Kerli (second left), Policy??Advisors in the National??Bureau of Gender??Policy in Suriname during their recent meeting. (A. Miller/BGIS) |
The National Bureau of Gender Policy, within the Ministry of Home Affairs in Suriname, has expressed an interest in learning more about Barbados’ gender policies.
This was underscored as Policy Advisors from the Surinamese Bureau, Natazi Sitaram and Helen Kerli, met with Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett, earlier today.????????????????
Ms. Kerli explained that during their visit they would be collecting information which could be used to establish their own gender policies and upgrade the services which are provided to the males and females in Suriname.
She also pointed out that one of the main initiatives within their organisation was to promote the participation of women in Parliament, and facilitate an increase of women in leadership roles.
In response, Minister Blackett affirmed that Barbadian women were playing an active role in Parliament, and stated that there were 11 female candidates in this year’s General Elections, of which five were elected. He also pointed out that the Leader of Government Business, the Leader of the Opposition and the President of the Senate were all females.
The Surinamese official proposed the establishment of closer ties between Barbados and Suriname, where both countries could learn from experiences in the fields of entrepreneurship, heritage and culture, among other areas.