Single parents promised more than day care vouchers
THE Single Parents Assistance Programme got underway yesterday in the Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).

Inaugurating the process, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand reiterated the importance of supporting the beneficiaries.

Minister Priya Manickchand and Regional Chairman Mr. Alli Baksh (Centre) amidst the recipients of the daycare vouchers and other regional officials,yesterday

The Minister was addressing the first batch of those to benefit from the day care assistance vouchers, which is one of three components of the project.

The process will see single parents countrywide getting the vouchers, which are to enable them to continue working while keeping their children in day care facilities.

Similar exercises are scheduled for April 8 in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); April 9 in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and April 11 in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) and Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).

Manickchand said, in addition to the day care vouchers, for which $8M has been allocated, the other aspects will see $50M being set aside to train and equip single parents with skills to also start small businesses.

Themed ‘Single but not alone’, the initiative was mooted by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in 2006.

“Back then, we recognised that single parents are hardworking individuals but found it hard because they are one income households,” the minister said.

Situation
She said Government, acknowledging the situation, ventured to support them by beginning to register the number in a single parent database, from which those who are employed and have at least two children, with a day care expense and income inclusive of remittances and other contributing factors not exceeding $30,000 monthly were selected to benefit.

Manickchand said creation of the database eliminated any grounds for allegations of subjective selection as it relates to who benefits from the day care vouchers.

Under those prerequisites, more than 700 persons of the registered qualified for receipt of the day care voucher, to meet one of the basic needs of working single parents, she explained.

Manickchand said the Government will not be able to meet all the needs of single parents but can contribute in small ways that assist and give single parents more disposable income.

As such, the qualified single parents with day care expenses will be assisted with $1,000 per child or 25 per cent of the average $4,000 cost.

She said it demonstrates Government’s commitment to the social services sector as its expenditure in this sector keeps increasing significantly.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Mr. Trevor Thomas, echoed the same sentiments and said the Anna Regina start is in fulfillment of the Government’s promise to assist the vulnerable in society.

He assured that this is not the end of the interventions to be made by the Ministry, which is committed to assisting the target group so they can contribute to Guyana’s development and make better theirs and their children’s lives as well as those for whom they are responsible.

The scheme was lauded by the Region Two Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh, who challenged single parents to seek out other avenues for developing themselves and families.

Education
Administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau, Ms. Hymawattie Lagan, endorsed the charge and admonished the single parents, the majority of whom were women, to recognise that education is the key to development.

“Despite the challenges, one must make the kind of decisions in life that propel us forward and seek to improve your lifestyles,” she said.

In an invited comment, one of the beneficiaries, Lima Sands teacher, Ms. Venisha Darrel, mother of two children, said: “A little tends to go a long way”.

She was grateful for the aid.
Another single mother of two, 27-year-old Ms. Geneisha Shamnarine admitted that the application procedure is a simple one and offered her gratitude to the Ministry.

Twenty-eight-year-old Ms. Joanne Harry, who has two children, declared: “Any help is good help and the assistance will be useful.”

Expressing thankfulness also was grandmother of four, Haimwattie (only name given) who has been taking care of the quartet, between eight and 13 years of age, since their parents died.

With her dedication to the upbringing of her grandchildren, she noted: “I have these children to look after and, right now, I am living on a Government reserve, not my own land and my husband had a stroke, so the assistance will be very useful.”