Single parent assistance programme slashed by $67M

Feb 18, 2009 News

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh in his 2009 Budget presentation lauded the work of the Human Services Ministry, adding that the budget will give support to its success in that increased focus will be given to the legislative framework to protect women and to empower them to earn a living, provide for their families and enjoy a better quality of life.
He said that work is already underway to reform sexual offences legislation, and it is likely to be laid before the National Assembly this year.
The Minister then pointed to the nationwide survey that was conducted and database that was compiled last year, to guide the programme aimed at assisting single parents, who are mostly women that will be launched this year.
According to Dr Singh, it will include the provision of training for single parents so that they can enter the world of work or start a small business.
“It will also see the provision of small business project grants totalling $25 million, and the provision of vouchers to support low-income employed single parents in meeting the cost of day care at a total cost of $8.8 million.”
This, however, is a far cry from the $100M programme that was announced by the President in January 2008.
During the People’s National Congress Reform’s post Budget press briefing, leader of the party, Robert Corbin described the programme as a hoax being perpetrated on society, quoting the president’s speech when he announced the programme: “This year, a special fund will be created to help single-parent households.”
Corbin added that for most of the same year there was no indication that there would be any action to make a reality of this promise and the PNCR reminded that it was yet another unfulfilled promise.
“In April of 2008, GINA (Government Information Agency) stated that the Ministry of Human Services was compiling a database to determine who would be eligible for benefits from the Fund.”
He noted that with that announcement some hope was, therefore, held out to single parents across the country that was “in the meantime, being battered by the rising cost of living.”
He added that silence subsequently engulfed “the issue once again….In December of 2008, enlightenment came from GINA again in that in August $100M was allocated to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security by Government for the Single Parent Fund.”
According to Corbin, the Ministry introduced the programme to assist single parent households that were being adversely affected by the increasing cost of food on the world market and it was anticipated that the identified $100M would be used to make the Single Parent Fund a reality. “If the single parents across this country were expecting a good resolution to the problems surrounding the fund, they were cruelly deceived by the Jagdeo Administration…Most Guyanese harboured the thought that the Single Parent Fund was intended to help single parents, particularly females, to cope with the rising cost of living as was stated.”
He that that what has, instead, been proposed in the 2009 Budget Speech is a programme to assist unemployed single parents, mainly women, in terms of training and similar inducements, to encourage them into the world of work.
The amount stated is $33M.
“So much for the promises of the Jagdeo Administration and its alleged concern for the poor and vulnerable of our society.”

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