“Your needs are our concern”

– Persaud tells residents of Riverview, Yarrow Dam

People residing in the Ruimveldt communities of Riverview and Yarrow Dam in Georgetown were afforded opportunity to air their concerns and receive personal recommendations for issues affecting them during an outreach spearheaded by Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
The outreach, which commenced in the community of Riverview, received support from key divisions within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. Those included the Gender Affairs Bureau, Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, and the Childcare and Protection Agency.
The dedicated team delved into various topics, including access to free skills training, pension, public assistance, assistive aids, domestic violence, gender affairs, difficult circumstances, and trafficking in persons.

The exercise saw a remarkable turnout of residents in Riverview, who were eager to interact with the various representatives and seek guidance on personal issues affecting their livelihoods.
During her address, Dr. Vindhya Persaud reiterated that the needs of citizens are Government’s concern, and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration would continue to work tirelessly to address those needs and concerns. On this point, she highlighted several initiatives catered for in this year’s $1.146 trillion fiscal package. Those initiatives would empower individuals through access to education, skills training, and support services, thereby fostering inclusive growth and development.
Following the engagement in Riverview, the team proceeded to Yarrow Dam, where they embarked on a house-to-house visitation campaign. This approach allowed the team to assess the unique needs and aspirations of Yarrow Dam residents firsthand, and facilitated meaningful interactions with residents, thereby allowing the team to gain valuable insights into the specific issues facing the community.
While interacting with residents in this community, Persaud encouraged residents to continue engaging the ministry, and to take advantage of the various support programmes and services available to them.
These engagements are intended to provide citizens in every corner of Guyana with information on the recently passed national budget, which contains programmes and measures that would improve their daily livelihoods.
Engagements will continue in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) over the next few weeks, and would be led by all Government ministers.

MoHSS 2024 Budget
The $48.3 billion set aside in this year’s budget for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) would play a pivotal role in ensuring senior citizens, persons living with disabilities, women and girls have access to empowerment opportunities.
Among benefits for the elderly is the construction of a $172 million elderly care facility at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, and the development of a wellness and wellbeing programme for pensioners, so they can remain active and access nutritional advice among other forms of assistance.
Meanwhile, $37 million has been set aside for rehabilitation of the Mahaica Girls’ Home, while $53 million will pave the way for the construction of a juvenile justice centre.
The Government also plans to establish in 2024 a special unit to cater for persons living with disabilities.
The unit to be established would allow for the smooth transition of policies, develop of targeted programmes, and continuation of the work currently being managed by the various departments in the ministry. (G1)