Human Services Ministry always responds to needs of Guyanese people – Social Security Min

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud on Monday said her Ministry has consistently responded to the needs of Guyanese – particularly the elderly, women, children and other vulnerable groups – pointing to expanded social support that now covers 90,000 pensioners, more than 25,000 public assistance recipients, over 21,000 women trained under the Women’s Innovation & Investment Network (WIIN), and more than 13,000 babies who have benefited from the $100,000 newborn cash grant.
Speaking on Monday during the first day of the budget debate at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Minister Persaud established that she was coming with hard facts as she defended her support of the $1.558 trillion budget that the Government has unveiled for the coming fiscal year under the theme “Putting People First”.
“This budget is a living, people-centred blueprint. It clearly emphasises what we at the PPPC clearly would have done every year, and that is to put people first. This budget I will champion because it relates to the needs and to the people of our country from Region one to Region 10,” Dr Persaud asserted.
According to Dr Persaud, the number of beneficiaries of welfare programmes provided by the Government has increased since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office in 2020.
Dr Persaud challenged the political opposition to point out which programmes they would axe funding for if they are bent on describing the budget as having nothing for the people.
“You don’t like this budget but what do you want to remove from it? Tell the person with the permanent disability, tell the pensioner,” Persaud suggested.
“If you look at the $78.3 billion budget allocated to this ministry, $70 billion of that is going directly to the hands of beneficiaries across the length and breadth of Guyana. Recipients of public assistance, pension, and permanent disability.”
According to Dr Persaud, the number of pensioners has grown to more than 90,000, with the Government honouring its commitment to double pensions.
Minister Persaud said pension payments are on track to reach $60,000, translating to $46,000 per month, along with a $20,000 transportation grant, an electricity grant equivalent to $30,000 per year and a water subsidy. Dr Persaud also pointed to provisions that are made for senior citizens to also have access to spectacles, healthcare and eye-testing vouchers.
Pointing to the collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Minister noted that a comprehensive home-based care programme for senior citizens is being rolled out. She said, for the first time, influenza and pneumonia vaccines are being provided to seniors, alongside an intensive geriatric care programme.
In addition, the Minister pointed to the new senior citizens’ home to be constructed at Enmore, while trained women from the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme will be engaged in innovative ways to support these care services.
A signature initiative established by Dr Persaud, the WIIN project focuses on equipping women with job-ready skills and entrepreneurial support to advance their development.
“When they say we will not support this budget, we don’t agree with this budget – then go and tell the women in Baracara that; go and tell the women in Sophia, and the women in Canegrove that this budget has nothing for them, when they have benefited through this programme in garment construction,” Dr Persaud challenged.
“Directly through WIIN, $170 million has been allocated to training women, empowering them. We are providing training that is diverse, that looks at the needs of the country.”
The Minister also pointed out that much effort and investment are being made in also training women in non-traditional areas.
“Last year, 129 women were trained through UK City and Guilds Programme in carpentry, welding, masonry, electrical installation, and plumbing. Advancing women in non-traditional areas is a personal passion of mine. We have always believed in promoting women, empowering women,” Persaud noted.
Also indicating Guyana’s efforts in improving the lives of its female population, Dr Persaud pointed to Guyana climbing four places up on the Global Gender Gap Index in one year, now being ranked 31 out of 149 countries worldwide. Guyana is also ranked eighth in the Caribbean for leadership on gender issues.
In other improvements, the Minister pointed to Guyana’s maintaining its Tier One ranking in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for nine consecutive years.
“Its easy to talk but we have been quietly doing the work. On the ground everyday doing the quiet work to reach every senior citizen and reach out to every mother and child,” Dr Persaud declared.