…all will rise to the peak and enjoy the good life, says Social Protection Minister

IN addition to increasing old age pensions by 49 per cent since being elected to office in 2015, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally announced that the government will roll out a National Aging Policy in 2018.

The Social Protection Minister during her presentation on the penultimate day of the 2018 budget debate on Thursday, said the goal of the policy would be to promote and support the social, economic and cultural re-integration of older persons into the mainstream of society and to enable senior citizens to participate in the national development process.

The parliamentary opposition quickly shot down the idea, accusing the government of wanting to use the policy for its self-serving purposes. In response, the minister said some of the opposition parliamentarians will benefit from the same project that they criticise. She went on to explain that care for the elderly will be improved, since the government is expected to establish an elderly welfare section in the Social Protection Ministry to monitor the daily operations of elderly residential-care facilities such as The Palms.

Benefits for the elderly however will not stop there, since the minister also announced that 20 elderly-care facilities in Guyana will benefit from a wheelchair-accessible bus. In addition, Guyanese were once again promised the good life, by Ally who said that her ministry is on a mission to formulate programmes and policies to create an enabling welfare state, one which will help people to help themselves.

“We are seeing and picking the fruits of this journey which started in 2015 and with time under the coalition government, Guyana will rise to the peak where all will enjoy this good life,” she said.
The parliamentary opposition did not miss the chance to ask where the good life she spoke of is, but in quick response the minister explained that they are in a hurry to rebuild a country that was “marred” and “scarred” by the “poor” and “corrupted” governance under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

As the saying goes, she “opened a can of worms” with that comment, but went on to defend her promise by pointing out that they will continue to give the unemployed youths skills to find decent jobs; give single mothers the support they need to go out and work or start a small business; provide vulnerable persons such as children, the elderly, the homeless and victims of violence and trafficking with the right care and protection needed to better their lives.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganga Persaud, who was particularly vocal, asked the minister what they have done so far for those groups. In response, Ally said the ministry has four ongoing programmes, one of which includes the First Lady Sandra Granger’s capacity-building initiative that has benefited over 900 female single parents and saw many female adults being trained in areas such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT); care for the elderly; first aid; childcare; early childhood development; self-reliance and success in business.

In addition, she argued that $100 million was allocated in 2017 for Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED). Through that programme, the ministry has established 20 agricultural and commercial projects in regions across the country. She boasted that over 253 households have benefited from those projects and as a result of their success, in 2018, the ministry will expand the programme to support community-based, income-generation activities as well as employment.

Persaud however riled the minister by pointing out that community-based, income-generation activities were established under the PPP/C, so therefore it is not a new initiative. An argument ensued, but the Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland, managed to control the eruption from both government and opposition parliamentarians.

Ally again made an attempt to defend her topic, pointing out that the ministry has made great strides in countering trafficking in persons. “Our political will, our programmes, our networking, something that the opposition never had, has [sic] resulted in Guyana moving from Tier 2 to Tier 1 earlier this year,” she argued, adding that their network and partnerships with the Ministerial Task Force, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Jamaica Trafficking in Persons and the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) have all contributed to their success.

The ministry is reportedly in the process of developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the treatment of human-trafficking victims. Speaking on a similar topic, sexual and domestic violence, Minister Ally said the government will establish a Victim Support Unit (VSU) in 2018, only months after they had established a specialised court for sexual offences. Amidst loud heckling, the minister added heat to the fire by saying that government has managed to do what the PPP/C did not do in 23 years.

Ally said no one will be left out of the development process, since they intend to also bat for a Gender and Social Inclusionary Policy in 2018. “Children and youths are also a part of our plan, as such, we intend to continue the Multimedia Child Abuse Awareness Campaign in 2018, so that we can reach out to parents who should help to provide a safe and nurturing family environment for their children,” said the minister.

She as such applauded the 2018 budget which has outlined a $1.7 billion investment in youth programmes. “The coalition government has a vision. It is taking this country down the road of progress and development. I say to all hey — on board, work with the government and prepare to enjoy the good life,” said the minister, who called on the opposition to also join the path to development.