By Delia Smallman and Roger Roberts in Grenada THE ROLE of women in revolutionary Grenada was the focal point of an historic congress of the National Women's Organisation held in Grenada at Delegates from Grenada, Martinique and representatives of 31 countries from the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe discussed the struggle for women's liberation.
Before the 13 March 1979 National Women's Organisation stood at members today has about 6,500 For the congress, the NWO grOups. scattered throughout the parishes of Ine discussed a major docuMer on women al weekly meetings and put forward suggesuons and A Ministry of Womens Affairs August 1982 which is the was official channel through which women's interests can be expressca and unc NWO's recommendations put forward.
It is the first such the whole of speaking Caribbean Already the revolution has benefitted women several ways. The most important government decree was the abolition of 'sexploitation' a system of sexual tavours for work beginning December.
Carriacon and Petit which was rife in the days of Eric Gairy, the former The Peoples Revolu tionary Government declared that women were to receive equal pay for equal work in any occupation and has introduced a Maternity Leave which has proved enormously beneficial.
As wen women are tur ly involved in the defence of the revolution. both in the militia and the Peoples Revolutionary Army. Jobs Women are also very involved in education programmes. such as the Centre for Popular Education as teachers and as students and increasingly in training programmes such as the new agricultural school at La Sagesse Finally the general reduction in unemployment has especially helped