WOMEN’S - ONLY PARTY: Let’s hope it can make a difference - Raymond's letter to the press

My letter on the above matter is published in The New Paper today, Monday 11^th August 2014.  

It is a healthy sign that Ms Ivy Singh-Lim, who is not afraid to speak her mind, is keen to set up a political group called the Gentlewarrior’s Party, as reported in, “Only women need apply ” (The New Paper, Aug 4) .  

I give this gungho woman my best wishes and hope she can make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalised and have no voice.  

Aspiring politicians must be prepared to speak out with courage and conviction on thorny issues such as mental illness and end-life issues. 

Such politicians will make good Members of Parliament (MP) because without them, these issues would get swept under the rug. 

We have citizens, many of them women, who are grappling with depression and other types of mental disorders, which in turn puts a heavy strain on family caregivers, many of who are also women.

Many women are also on the receiving end of abuse, physical and verbal, or their marriages may be falling apart, resulting in broken families and woories over their children suffering.  

Other women who may need more support include the wives of prisoners and caregivers who lose their spouses abruptly. 

So go for it, Ms Ivy Singh-Lim. Be a voice for the voiceless and bring advocacy to a much higher level.

 

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO