This year’s budget focuses on every Guyanese – Human Services Minister

Apr 09, 2013 News

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By Latoya Giles
Minister of Human Service and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, says that representatives in the National Assembly must be committed to working together for the benefit of all Guyanese. Webster made that remark during her recent contribution to the budget debate.
According to the minister the representatives must be steadfast in their endeavours and continue the process which the government began some two decades ago.

She stated that this “process” will enable Guyanese to realize their dreams and aspirations thereby making Guyana a better place. According to the minister, her administration has demonstrated over the past years through its policies and programmes that it has a sustained track record.
It is Government’s position that every single Guyanese must have access to the same opportunities, irrespective of where they live.
Webster said that it is therefore of utmost importance that greater emphasis be placed on the delivery of improved social services within the various communities. With this in mind, the minister said, her Ministry in accordance with its mandate will focus on meeting human needs through the provision of human services.
According to Minister Webster, the Child Care and Protection Agency will continue to play a leading role in child abuse cases reported throughout the country. She said that there was an increase in the number of child abuse cases investigated— from 3653 in 2011 to 3690 last year. She explained that of the 3690 cases, 396 children were successfully removed from abusive situations and 81 of them were reintegrated into their biological families.
Webster noted that this year, more emphasis will be placed on the implementation of the early childhood development programme with the registration and licensing of all daycare facilities for children.
According to her, there are in excess of 200 such facilities in operation throughout Guyana and this year the Ministry’s intention is to introduce night care facilities for children of single parents in an effort to support those parents, particularly mothers who by virtue of their employment are required to work long hours.
Webster noted that this was one of the clearest reflections of the government. She said that the administration has seen the need to reduce the vulnerability of children being left without adequate supervision and care with emphasis being placed upon the safety of children.
She added that the Ministry continues to work towards the prevention of separation of children from their families. The Minister also stated that specially trained officers will be tasked with the responsibility to register and license these care facilities as well as monitor their operations to ensure that they operate in accordance with established standards.
Minister Webster noted that there are plans for the expansion and strengthening of the foster care and kinship care programmes as an alternative care option for children at risk. Heightened focus would be given to reducing the number of children in constitutional care by promoting family-based care.
In the area of family assistance, the Minister stated that there will be increased psychosocial support and other assistance to families at the risk for the prevention of child abuse and the separation of children.
She explained that the family assistance programmes include day care services support, school uniform assistance, skills training for parents and food assistance vouchers.

The New Mahaica Home
The new state of the art building constructed to house the Mahaica Children’s Home has been completed and will be commissioned shortly. Webster said that this facility will provide care and support for our children including our teenage girls who have been exploited.
This year, the Minister said that special attention will be given to complement the existing programme in place with the re-integration of teenage mothers into the school. She said that it is quite important as government must ensure that young girls are educated and empowered. Webster noted that daycare services will also be provided to support teenage mothers in continuing their education and building a livelihood for themselves.

Capacity building of Child Care staff
According to the Minister, through funding being provided by UNICEF, capacity building workshops and training programmes will be conducted this year as the administration continues to place emphasis on enhancing the human capital to realize the national goals.
The Minister said that this year, there will also be the re-organization and decentralization of the services provided by the agency throughout the ten administrative regions. The minister highlighted that this year some $233.7M has been budgeted to meet current expenditure associated with the agency’s work plan for 2013.
She further noted that the sum of $15M has been provided to meet capital expenditure.

Improving the lives of the elderly
Minister Webster stated that improving the lives of the elderly continues to be one of the major concerns for the government. The minister noted that every Guyanese who resides here in Guyana aged 65 and older is eligible to receive the monthly non-contributory old age pension.

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