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Dear Editor, This is a sad time for Guyanese women. Two of our eminently qualified, highly regarded women jurists find their careers stymied in a testosterone-driven competition to see who has the bigger pair. For years Madam Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Madam Justice Roxane George have held the positions of Acting Chancellor and Acting Chief Justice respectively. In these positions and prior, they served with the highest distinction. It could be said, figuratively, that the Madam Justices clawed their way through the corridors of our legal system to reach the offices they hold. Having worked their way to the top, their confirmation as Chancellor and Chief Justice is being determined not on merit, not on their professionalism, dedication or service. Instead, in this male-dominated society, the careers of these two women legal luminaries are determined in a male power play and political shenanigans. This has dragged on over successive governments and successive Opposition Leaders. It is shameful and disrespectful to our women. As the competitors in the T zone try to out-maneuver each other, we see the holder of another pair being positioned to side step and get ahead of another female who has worked her way up and given her years of service to deserve being ahead. These power plays by male decision-makers must be examined through gender lenses. There is absolutely no reason for Madam Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards to be not appointed Chancellor of the Judiciary and for Madam Justice Roxane George to be not appointed Chief Justice. Their careers are not pawns to any overload of T cells. Women of Guyana have earned the right to every high office and male decision-makers must respect this right. Yours faithfully, Beverley Alert
