MINISTER of Social Protection Amna Ally defended in the Committee of Supply on Thursday, that the sum of over $18B allocated for the central ministry for 2019 is adequate for it to carry out its mandate.

Sifting through the budget estimates to the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) Project for which some $250M has been allocated; Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Vindya Persaud inquired about the process used to determine beneficiaries.

In response, Ally noted that a total of 1,264 persons were beneficiaries of SLED in 2018 and they continue to be chosen based on their indication of interest to participate.
While Persaud questioned whether there would be similar provisions for persons in Region Six in the coming year, Ally confirmed that several programmes are to be conducted in areas such as Eversham, Canje, Angoy’s Avenue, Fyrish and more.

Some of which they benefit from include training in poultry, sheep and pig rearing; farming; garment construction; shade house cultivation; cash crop farming; catering and hospitality among others.

She also stated that the availability of benefits under the programme will be disseminated through public advertisement countrywide through the various regional offices.
On the topic of old-age pension and public assistance, the minster said that the total 54,000 recipients each in 2019 will receive an increase of GYD$20,500 taking the allocation to a total of $13B for the year.

Meanwhile, for the some 12,000 recipients of public assistance in 2019, they will receive $9,000 each bringing the total to some $1.B.
With $162M allocated to dietary in 2019, the minister noted that this sum will not only cater for the feeding of those at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) but to persons at the Palms Geriatric Home, Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration; the Mahaica Children’s Home and the Night Shelter.

Meanwhile, training at the sum of $6.3M will go towards those at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) while under the topic of Child Care and Protection, some $27M will be going to orphanages.
She noted that there are currently 89 boys and 86 girls under foster care with monthly financial provisions being made per month for each child.

On the same topic of Child Care and Protection, Ally said that $60M in dietary will be being provided while training to the tune of $17M is set for service providers.

Of the $49M capital expenditure to be spent on buildings in 2019, the minister said that this will facilitate the payment of retention at a drop-in center to the tune of $10M; $37M for additional works and the remaining funds will go towards better accommodating additional child care protection staff in the community of Whim.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Keith Scott noted that the amount allocated for support to unions is some $8M and include the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU); Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and several others.