The Ministry of Social Protection will pay keener attention to delinquent parents this year, particularly fathers who do not contribute financially to their children’s upkeep. This is according to subject Minister Volda Lawrence who noted that too many fathers have abandoned their responsibility to their families, leaving the State to provide.
“Everyone will face the consequence – the law. The State cannot be burdened when a parent or parents have the means of taking care of their children and they choose not to do so. It doesn’t matter how big or small you are we’re going to come after you,” the minister was quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry.
According to the release, the Minister was at the time speaking with members of the newly-appointed Local Board of Guardians, who will review applications for Public Assistance for persons living along the East Bank Demerara.
She noted that there are cases where women are afraid to seek monies from fathers to support their children because of the men’s abusive behaviour, but the Ministry will address this as well.
Nevertheless, the minister acknowledged that there are parents who are genuinely unable to provide for their children due to various reasons and the Ministry is prepared to support those families.
“But it’s unfair to use taxpayers’ money to support children whose parents can afford to take care of them,” Minister Lawrence said.
The East Bank Local Board of Guardian is one of the many installed across the country effective February 1, 2016 to process Public Assistance applications.
Public Assistance is a form of temporary financial assistance issued by the Government of Guyana to specific persons, including the aged, infirmed, sick, destitute and children below the age of 14. A Public Assistance voucher is valued at $6,500.
The release noted that the boards are responsible for evaluating and determining the legitimacy of Public Assistance applications in rural areas to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are justifiably spent.
The East Bank Board comprises Roderick Edinboro, Alma Francois-Bovell, Fannett Brandford, Loraine Stephens, Mark Braithwaite and Deryck Boyce.
“The Ministry of Social Protection lacks the capacity to deal with all the social issues we have by ourselves, and as a result, we need your help. You are our ears and eyes on the ground. Your interactions as members of the community can help us to get the facts on the issue…for too long we have made judgments about who get Public Assistance and how much based on perceptions. I’m saying let’s not use perception. Let us investigate the cases and execute our tasks base on facts. Let’s treat people with dignity and respect,” Minister Lawrence charged.
The minister further noted that there are some cases of the ‘dependency syndrome’ where people are reluctant to seek alternative sources of income, but noted that the Ministry is taking a different approach to social protection in 2016.
The minister urged the board to work along with religious leaders in the communities to further support families.