THE Ministry of Social Protection has installed what is now called a Local Board of Guardian at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast and at the riverine township of Bartica.The mandate of these boards is to support families in need of Public Assistance, but subject minister Volda Lawrence is urging members to go beyond making recommendations.

At the recent installation ceremony in the communities at reference, Minister Lawrence reportedly suggested that the boards could seek additional support to empower families by collaborating with other departments of the ministry that provide both skills training and job placement with sister agencies, or with the ministry directly.

According to the Ministry of Social Protection, the Boards are responsible for processing applications for Public Assistance — a form of temporary financial assistance issued by the Government of Guyana to specific persons. Those benefiting from the programme include the aged, infirm, sick, destitute, and children below the age of 14.

The abovenamed Local Boards of Guardian are tasked with evaluating and determining the legitimacy of the applications within the Essequibo County.

Children receiving public assistance must benefit from regular health checks, and attend school regularly; while board members have to monitor such attendances.

According to the Ministry of Social Protection, Minister Lawrence alerted parents to the Ministry’s intention to hold them accountable when they are delinquent in taking care of their children. Such parents will have to face the law whenever they neglect their children’s welfare, she added.

Minister Lawrence has advised the new board members that Government is moving in the direction of implementing conditional cash transfers, which would eventually replace Public Assistance. This would be in the form of tangible assistance to families, which would help to empower the entire family, rather than a cash transfer for a few members, as is currently the case.

The Minister also indicated that persons with permanent disabilities are now being given Public Assistance Vouchers for an entire year, instead of six months, as was done previously.

Apprising the members of their roles and expectations, the Minister urged them to be compassionate towards people seeking assistance and at all times treat cases with the highest confidentiality.

Board members are selected from communities within the regions. The several persons from the previous boards were returned to serve on the new boards. There are 28 such boards across the country.

Also attending the ceremony were Member of Parliament and Advisor to the Minister John Adams; Assistant Chief Probation and Social Security Officer, Ricardo Banwarie; and several officials.