– assures that information provided in EPTSI survey will equip Gov’t to take a more hands-on approach in dealing with specific issues affecting population
THE Enhanced Public Trust, Security and Inclusion (EPTSI) project, a partnership between the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hosted a Validation Workshop on Saturday last to analyse the findings of the EPTSI Baseline Survey at the Guyana International Conference Center (GICC), Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The survey, which includes both qualitative and quantitative methods of social investigation based on Guyana’s demographic, ethnic and gender representation was carried out by a team of consultants from the University of the West Indies.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Member of Parliament (MP) and Presidential Advisor on Governance Ms. Gail Teixeira, in her remarks, said the workshop is of extreme importance to the Government and people of Guyana.

She said that EPTSI, based on its approach to address and reduce political and social conflicts, is very instrumental in dealing with issues such as domestic violence and in so doing enhances and improves the state of communities.

“Part of the survey seeks to deal frontally with issues of conflict resolution and state of conflict,” Teixeira said.

According to her, the evidence that is produced as a result of the survey deals with a profile of the views of people in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten, which form the majority of the country’s population. Further, she noted that Government found the survey’s findings very useful for future interventions.

Subsequent to the discussions, Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir highlighted the need for more awareness as it relates to the skills training programmes, particularly those that are being spearheaded by the public sector and said that there is definite need for more community-based collaboration.

The Minister stated that industry and civil society need to play a more proactive role in the development of communities.

Former Police Commissioner, Floyd Mc Donald, who was also part of the workshop, asserted the need for more involvement by religious communities and strengthening of family relationships.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon, who delivered the closing remarks, said that Government has gone a far way in crafting interventions to deal with the issues that were highlighted in the survey.

The HPS  said the information will equip Government to take a more hands-on approach in the dealing with the specific issues.

Data collection for the survey was executed by a team of supervised and trained local interviewers who were supervised by the consultants.

Each region and, by extension each community within each region, has its distinct needs and disadvantages and notwithstanding, there have been common ideas and issues that have been brought to the fore through the consultations which have been presented in the reports.

The anticipated outcome of the project being social cohesion and peace building approaches will be factored into national development frameworks and integrated into programmes at the national and local level to reduce real or perceived sentiments of insecurity.

The EPTSI project aims to: empower youth to participate fully in governance and to serve as agents for peaceful change, boost local capacity for participation in governance and enhance community security and safety and strengthen the public discourse centered on the inclusion and constructive reduction of conflicts.

Also in attendance were Minister of Local of Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony; Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. (GINA)