Human Services Ministry, Police to collectively address domestic violence, child abuse

In a bid to strengthen collaboration between the Human Services and Social Security Ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), subject Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud on Wednesday held discussions with Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken.
The main focus of the meeting was to discuss issues related to domestic violence, one of the biggest concerns at the moment.
Having a better response to the issue and forming partnerships for effective approaches to this and other social ills were deliberated. Also at the meeting were Permanent Secretary Anjanie Ramlall and Director of Child Services, Ann Greene.
The Ministry is intensifying its prevention, awareness and intervention campaign against domestic violence and abuse through a series of strategic collaborative programmes with critical stakeholders.

“For Guyana to achieve success in eradicating domestic violence and abuse against women and children, an objective analysis of the inefficiencies and gaps must guide programmes, policies and interventions,” Minister Persaud had expressed recently.
The Spotlight Initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry, is the channel through which many of these initiatives will be carried out. The discussions on Thursday were especially significant with the launch of two major collaborations imminent. The GPF will collaborate with the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) to give intense focus to children’s safety and to reduce abuse and children being on the streets, open to danger and risks.
The meeting also dealt with Minister Persaud’s recent visit to Baramita, in Region One (Barima-Waini), and how the GPF could better assist the Ministry to address the issues there.
“We want to build a strong connection with Baramita and help the community to rise,” Minister Persaud had said during her recent visit as she listened to reports of high cases of suicide, drugs, alcohol consumption, child sexual abuse, and incest.
She had called on all involved, including the Police, to work together in addressing the serious problems of the community.
“People will only develop confidence in you if you do something about their concerns; not if they have to keep coming back to voice the same complaints over and over. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to the real work,” she stressed.