Welfare officers to be stationed in hinterland communities

…to bridge gap between hinterland, coastal regions

Ten welfare officers on Monday commenced a training programme which is expected to enable them to serve and address the issues of hinterland communities.

The training, which will last for one month, is expected to bridge the gap between the hinterland and coastal regions through increased communication.
After the training exercise has been completed, the officers will be deployed to Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
In remarks at the opening ceremony of the training programme, Junior Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe highlighted that introduction of welfare officers in these remote communities would facilitate monitoring of some of the ongoing social issues, such as incest and domestic violence. She urged the residents of these communities to acquire birth certificates for their children. This is an ongoing issue that is common in most households within these communities.
She further said the programme would add to the knowledge of these officers, and equip them with requisite skills to provide guidance to people of the hinterland communities. The presence of welfare officers in hinterland regions is intended to enable residents of those regions to acquire some of the services that are available in the coastal regions.
“We want to bridge that gap between coastland and hinterland. The same opportunities that we have in Georgetown, the same opportunities the hinterland must have,” the minister declared.
The welfare officers were also addressed by Senior Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, who posited that this is a timely approach to engage persons in the hinterland regions, since the recent National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting would’ve highlighted some of the problems that are encountered by the people on a daily basis.
He further stated that the presence of welfare officers in hinterland regions would ensure that persons living in those regions are informed and involved in good decision-making processes to improve services in their regions.
“You were there, you listened to the issues, and you were part of the solution to many of those issues that we have been hearing,” he said to the officers.
This is the first such training of its kind, and inputs have been forthcoming from the Social Protection Ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).