THE Ministry of Social Protection has installed new local Boards of Guardian across the country to process public assistance applications.Effective from February 1, the Local Board of Guardians has been responsible for evaluating and determining the legitimacy of the public assistance applications from outside of Georgetown, to ensure that taxpayers’ dollars are justifiably spent.

Public Assistance is a form of temporary financial assistance issued by the Government of Guyana to specific persons, including the aged, infirm, sick, destitute, and children below the age of 14.

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, met members of three of the five Boards responsible for Region Three on Friday at the West Demerara Secondary School, and apprised them of their roles and responsibilities. She urged them to be compassionate towards persons seeking assistance, and at all times to treat cases with the highest confidentiality.

The minister also encouraged the Board members to network with other services offered by the Ministry, such as training through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), and job placement through the Central Manpower Agency, in order to further empower persons seeking public assistance.

Underscoring the importance of this, the Minister revealed that the Ministry plans to introduce, in 2017, conditional cash transfers which will seek to empower families rather than individuals.

Board members are appointed by the Minister of Social Protection in accordance with the Pension Ordinances, Chapters 36:02 and 36:03 respectively. Members are selected from communities within the regions.

The several persons from the previous Boards whose mandates have recently expired were returned to serve on the new Boards. There are 28 such Boards across the country, all of which report to the Poor Law Commission, which also has responsibility for public assistance in Georgetown.

The commission’s authority includes consideration, amendment, discontinuation, and restoration of the relief granted by the Local Board of Guardians. This is done based on reports presented by Social Services Officers, who are required to investigate each claim in collaboration with relevant entities such as the National Insurance Scheme, in cases of medical conditions and disability.