APNU Weekly column

Apr 22, 2012 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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BY VOLDA LAWRENCE (Shadow Minister for Human Services and Social Security)

Given the laying of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2011-2015 in this National Assembly in August 2011, one would have thought that Government’s agenda would have clearly embraced this document. The document states “Steadfast commitment to policy measures elaborated in this PRSP is likely to set free the country’s vast potential in human and natural resources.”
Further, the document outlines the seven-pillared-strategies around which these goals would be realized. Yet, the non-reference to this document in this 2012 Budget presentation is rather surprising. The reality is that the Finance Minister’s budget has little or no sound provision to fulfill those objectives.
No mention has been made of three of the four pillars– Good Governance, improved social services including better provision of Safety nets, and special intervention strategies for vulnerable populations.
The Finance Minister’s performance during the reading of the ‘Sectoral Performance’ section was hilarious. He broke out into a melodious crescendo and his body began to bounce in a dance like fashion as he sung of the 21 sectors outlined on pages 7-9 of the Budget where only three of those sectors experienced negative growth in 2011 while the remaining 19 sectors had growth ranging from two to 19%.
No doubt, the men and women who worked to make that possible must be congratulated for their sterling performance and A Partnership for National Unity so congratulates them.
This 2012 budget can be likened to an inflated balloon for the 18% of Guyanese who fall within the Extreme poverty bracket and the 36% who fall within the Moderate poverty bracket.
The Hon. Minister did not indicate how this growth would impact on the realization of the 7 pillared-strategy.
One would have expected the government to address in a comprehensive manner the seven-pillars set out for the Economic and Social Transformation of Guyana to at least remove the very real perception amongst Guyanese that the Government would have penalized those who did not vote for them or those who just did not vote.
Poverty
Amongst our poor: working poor, single parents, elderly, powerless and disabled, there was hope that with the increased growth, which the Minister gleefully spoke about, there was the expectation that there would have been some new measures to address the way additional income was distributed; that the Government would have sought to reduce the high degree of inequality in the distribution of income, thereby setting Guyana on the way to attaining rapid reduction in the number of those persons living in poverty; but this expectation was short-lived.
The Minister did not at any time during his presentation mention the amount allocated in his estimates to address, tangibly, the inequalities which exist between the haves and have nots. Rather, a glance at page 15, Table 7 of volume one of the estimates, subscribes to the view that this budget is anti-poor, anti-ordinary citizen, anti-vulnerable group; more than ever, it is one which only takes care of the boys.
The Minister spoke of his Government’s commitment to invest in the Social Sector, but as the old adage states, ‘the taste of the pudding is in the eating’.
The Minister should tell this nation, given all that he said, why the allocation for the Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security was reduced by $214.M, and more particularly, why the allocation to Social Services – Other Charges decreased by $210.4M as against the allocation for 2011? Is this the strategy to reduce or lessen the burden on those in the poverty bracket?
The Elderly and Pensioners
Family members, individuals, and public institutions must meet the challenge for survival of our Elderly each day. The long-term care that is necessary for these individuals more than ever in Guyana is regarded as a responsibility of the family, even as life expectancy continues to rise and greater demands are made.
Having spoken of the six consecutive years of growth the Minister in addressing our most vulnerable groups, made three profound statements for which he deserves three awards. Those are: •$600. per month or rather $20. per day increase for the Elderly; •$400. Per month or rather $13. Per day increase for the vulnerable; •$10,000. on the tax threshold for persons working for $50,000 a month and below.
It is now known that the pension to the elderly has been increased by $2,500 per month, to $10,000 per month.
The Minister has proceeded without paying any heed to the shifts in age distribution in Guyana, given that those aged 65 and over have exceeded 10% of our population. The World Bank 2009 Report reveals that persons 60 years – 65 years or older have been steadily increasing during the past decade. Is the Minister unaware? When is he going to address this issue?
Not many elderly persons in Guyana fall into the category of those who use their wealth and financial capability to head households. The majority of those who are found in this category would be spending their remaining days somewhere in North America.
This therefore, leaves a large percentage of our elderly dependent on family members for support. Those who depend on pensions to survive must face the high cost for food, medical attention and transportation, amongst others, and most often live below minimum standards. This Budget offers no hope for them to be relieved from their impoverished conditions.
The figures for those who apply for Old Age Pension tell a sad story. There has been a steady increase from some 2,500 every year from 2006 to the first half of 2008. A substantial increase of 2,900 from the last half of 2008; in 2009 -3,009, in 2010 – 3,500 and for the first quarter of 2011 some 800 new applications were made.
These figures highlight the plight of the elderly in our midst more so of our Elderly seeking Old Age Pension and those who continue to work. This is surely a dire situation for our people.

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