EXECUTIVES from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on Thursday signaled its willingness to assist the Ministry of Social Protection to construct a modern geriatric facility, along with a safe house for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.On Thursday, Executives from the bank led by its Vice President for Cooperation and Country Programming Complex, Sayed Aqa, gave a detailed overview of the bank’s history and operation, while several Ministers of Government, and other Government Officials outlined a number of areas in need of financing.

During her presentation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence told the investors that the Palms Geriatric Institution situated in the heart of the capital city, Georgetown, is in a deplorable state and her Ministry has since proposed the construction and furnishing of a modern facility to house 300 poverty-stricken elderly persons.

“We believe that the time has come to provide better services for them,” Minister Lawrence posited.

It was pointed out that the Social Protection Ministry has land space at its disposal in Region 4, and would be happy to have the elderly relocated to a new and improved facility.

The Palms Geriatric Home was established under British rule in 1874 and has been the final home of thousands of Guyanese senior citizens.

Minister Lawrence also told the Bank’s Executives of her Ministry’s second priority project – the construction of a shelter for survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

“We are looking at the construction of a facility to temporary house survivors, mainly women and children,” she said while explaining that the Ministry is hoping to house approximately 20 families at once.

In making her case, the Social Protection Minister pointed out that between 2011 and 2013, the Crime and Social Observatory Unit, through the Ministry of Public Security registered more than 9,200 different types of domestic violence cases in Guyana. Sixty-five per cent of the cases involved assault. It was further pointed out by the Minister that between January and October of 2015, 17 women were murdered by their partners with the majority of the victims older than 25 years.

These crimes continue to be committed at a time when there is no Government-run facility in Guyana for victims of sexual and domestic violence, who are primarily women and children. The Ministry partners with a Non-Governmental Organisation to provide housing for the survivors.

However, when the safe house, which houses Human Trafficking victims, is filled, the house for victims of sexual and domestic violence is also utilized.
“We have a crisis on our hands in terms of domestic violence, sexual violence and trafficking in persons. We are trying at best with our limited resources and with the help of NGOs to address these issues but I believe that this kind of team that is here today, will understand that there are some things that we cannot do on our own,” she said.

Minister Lawrence said the Ministry is not sitting idly by but has already secured a plot of land to construct a shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

“We already have the plans and all we need now are the finances to get that building up. Help us to save our women and our children,” she pleaded.

The Bank’s Vice President, in response to Minister Lawrence, said “I think that we can work with you, without again promising, we can see how we can accommodate that.”

He said there are a number of options that the Bank’s Technical Team can explore with the Ministry, positing that the issues raised by Minister Lawrence are indeed pressing.

The Islamic Development Bank Acting Director for Country Programme, Mohammed Jamal Aisaati, on Thursday, had also given a detailed presentation on the 42 year-old banking facility. He outlined that the bank which has a member of 57 countries, provides a number of services, including scholarships for persons in fields of Science and Technology, special assistance such as project financing, trade financing and promotional of intra-trade, capacity development and technical cooperation and even insurance of export and investment.