Welfare issues in Linden alarming – Board of Guardians Chairperson

Chairperson of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Board of Guardians, Sandra Adams has said there is an alarmingly high number of welfare issues in Linden, which need to be tackled from various angles. She noted that the level of issues in the community is quite surprising when compared to that of other parts of the region.
“At the level of the Board of Guardians… this region, Linden in particular, has a serious issue of welfare matters. We see on a monthly basis, the number of issues coming before the Board for assistance in the area of welfare,” she outlined.
Adams added that it is surprising to see the amount of people that have to be approved for public assistance on a monthly basis, while stating that from reports, the sister body of the Board of Guardians, which is located at Kwakwani (Upper Berbice) does not have as many cases.
“I don’t even know where to start recommending in this region, how do we handle it? But there are some areas that need to be tackled from various points. From health, welfare, education. It’s a number of teams that have to come together to tackle this situation, but it is not a too pleasant one here in Linden especially,” she stressed.
Adams indicated that there is also a rise in terminal illnesses in the community, including HIV. She also pointed out that there was once a Regional AIDS Committee, which looked into such matters.
“There’s something that has to be done regionally again… We’re in a serious crisis, especially here in Linden,” Adams contended. Speaking on the issue, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he will be seeking to bring together a group of people who can look into such issues as early as this week.
The issues, he noted, may have to be dealt with in steps.
The local Board of Guardians, which was extended to include Sub-Region 2 (Ituni and Kwakwani) was installed at Linden in April 2016. Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence, during the officiating ceremony said it is a critical body in ensuring that the Social Protection Ministry achieved its objective of reducing the levels of poverty in Guyana.