– Minister Persaud urges members to target those in need
MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on Tuesday, installed three Boards of Guardians in the Pomeroon- Supenaam region to review applications for public assistance. The members, whose names were submitted to the Regional Administration, will serve on the North, South and Pomeroom-Essequibo boards. The nine persons appointed to serve on the South Essequibo are Chitamdanie Seeram, Indrawattie Natram, Mahindra Sharma, Seelochanie Singh,
Samuel Vaugh, Llody Griffith, Seerojanie Singh, Jayashree Persaud and Charran Sarabjeet. Those serving on the North board include Dahood Khan, Pandit Kaydar Persaud, Ivy Anita Durga, Cornel Damon, Jai Singh, Patricia James, Rosaline Thompson, Lorna Fitz Allen and Saif Baksh. Meanwhile, Nalini Bhagwandas, Shakti Khellawan, Indira Ramnauth, Eunice Ramdeen, Llody Perriera, Godfrey Culpepper and Leon Thomas will serve on the Pomeroon board.
During the installation ceremony, Minister Persaud said that members of the respective boards have an important role to play in improving the lives of Essequibians. She said too that they have an integral function to execute on behalf of the ministry. This function is to create a linkage and ensure that persons have access to the various services. “We need to ensure efficiency and efficacy…there should be access to all the ministry’s services. You have to create a critical link between the Human Service Ministry and the people,” Minister Persaud emphasized. The boards, she said, will be responsible for identifying vulnerable cases for public assistance.
Minister Persaud said often times many persons apply for assistance because of their medical situation or some trauma. Although this assistance will be a temporary solution, she explained that the ministry hopes to put systems in place to move persons towards a life of independence. She also urged board members to constantly review applicants. Further, the ministry is working on measures to enhance the pension system and to make child care services in the region readily available.
