Minister Webster grilled as Ministry provisions closely scrutinised
THE current and capital provisions for the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security were passed, after close scrutiny by the opposition parliamentary parties and adequate answers offered by the Government side in Parliament Wednesday. That happened after the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly began consideration, by sector, the estimates for the expenditure of $192.8 billion in the 2012 National Budget.
Before the adjournment was taken, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Africo Selman was among those who questioned Minister Jennifer Webster.
Selman asked about the contracted employees and their emoluments and the minister, in her response, told the House there are two accounts clerks earning $45,338 monthly, one clerk two receiving  $53,161 and one principal assistant secretary (Finance) getting $158,854.
Webster was also asked the reason behind the increase in the budgetary allocation for security services, for which $16.9M have been allocated and she responded that there were changes since United Associates and Security Domestic Services, which, up to Wednesday was the provider, indicated that it was unable to continue. As a result, the ministry had to, urgently; employ selective tendering with approval of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, as it would have been without any service from yesterday. Now the Head Office location will be guarded by a special constabulary and the other premises by Brans Security.
The APNU MP, in her continued questioning, sought to find out which buildings would benefit from the $8M set aside and Webster said those identified include the Head Office, at Water and Cornhill Streets; the Drop-In Centre on Hadfield Street; The Palms on Brickdam, all in Georgetown and the Mahaica Hospital, on East Coast Demerara.
Infrastructural developments
The minister also informed that, during the year, a number of infrastructural developments will be done to The Palms and several other buildings which fall under the purview of the ministry.
Responding to the questions posed by APNU MP, Joan Bhavegems, concerning fuel and lubricants for which an amount of $9.6M is allocated, Webster said a total of 10 vehicles are assigned to the ministry.
She was further grilled on the $5.1M in subsides and contributions to local organisations and she named the current beneficiaries as the Amerindian Family Craft association, Beacon Foundation, Friends of the Needy, Guyana Relief Council, Guyana Red Cross Society and Rural Women’s Network in Environment.
Webster said the $199.712 M, for the ministry to execute its mandate during 2012, will see the Ministry Administration getting $20,600M; Social Services $174.172 M and Labour Administration $4.400M.
She was also asked for a breakdown of the $2.1M for refreshments and meals and she replied that they were supplied during meetings, the recently held International Women’s Day activities and for officers who worked out of Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica).
A question was posed by APNU‘s MP Christopher Jones, to which Webster said 25 staff members will benefit from staff development training in Computer Science.
The minister was also asked for a response as to where the training will be undertaken and she said it would be at Global Technology.
She added that $66M is to better equip and rehabilitate training centres countrywide, as government aims to have 2,850 young people trained in varying technical/vocational areas.
Meanwhile, under the capital expenditure, the minister revealed that 46 social workers are presently employed at the ministry.
Another APNU MP, Volda Lawrence wanted to know the complement of social workers required by the ministry and Webster said the maximum is 57, some paid as contract employees and the others as technical and craft skilled.
She explained that the workers were placed in different categories as some are under the pensionable establishment whilst the others are on contract.
The officers on contract are probation and family welfare officers and probation and social services officers and their salaries are $66,053 monthly, Webster stated.
Lawrence asked which Region does not have social services officers and Webster said they are posted in all across Guyana.
Single parents and the homeless are not left out of the budget as government will continue to make investments in both, with the Women of Worth (WOW) programme to be launched also in Regions 1 (Barima/Waini) and 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and the Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, will be completed to bring relief to the homeless, Webster said.
She said 200 women will be afforded training in areas such as small business management, basic accounting and self-improvement and the Mahaica Home, on the East Coast Demerara, will be upgraded to provide care for young girls who have been victims of abuse while the Family Court is expected to commence sittings this year.