THE Guyana Government has moved to install groups of persons who will be specifically tasked with reviewing applications for public assistance within their respective catchment areas. So far, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has already met with several of the groups referred to as the ‘Board of Guardians’. After meeting the guardians in Regions Two, Six and 10, Minister Persaud, on Saturday evening, engaged two of the Boards of Guardians in Regions Five – Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice and Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
During the joint meeting hosted at the Fort Wellington Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Office, Dr. Persaud emphasised that all efforts will be made to improve the quality of services being offered by her ministry. More importantly, she said that the ministry will be “critically assessing” the way that its officers interact with vulnerable groups that reach out to the ministry for assistance.

Dr. Persaud told the ‘Guardians’ that her ministry is one that should and must be “people- oriented.” In this regard, she said that compassion and empathy will be the name of the game, going forward.
“When persons come for public assistance, it means they have no other alternative, so we have to learn how to speak with them when they come to us for help. Therefore, the ministry will be critical at assessing officers’ performance to see how they deal with the public. I make no apology about that because I believe that we need to elevate the manner in which we deliver services to people of this country,” Dr. Persaud asserted.
She believes that certifying the ‘Boards of Guardians’ to have direct engagements with residents within their communities would ensure that the Public Assistance Programme reaches those who truly need it.

Minister Persaud further encouraged the Ministry’s Probation Officers within Region Five, along with members of the boards and the Region’s Welfare Committee, to host sessions with community members in an effort “to sensitise them on how public assistance works, the benefits and who benefits.”
Dr. Persaud expressed confidence that the public interactions would also eliminate any miscommunication and every speculation of discriminatory practices.
“So, if you have continuous engagements within the communities, persons will have the confidence in you. Irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political persuasion, and I want to be very clear on this, we need to reach out and help people; help and support should not be tied to any of these things,” the minister posited.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, also accompanied the minister to the engagement. She used the forum to congratulate the ‘Board’ members on their appointments, and reminded them of the importance of their new role, which she says plays a critical part in the ministry executing its vision.

“You are the eyes and ears on the ground. You all have an impact on the lives of the most vulnerable,” Hoosein-Outar told the appointees. She pointed to the fact that the concept of public assistance is not intended to be a permanent fix for all. With the exception of Persons With Disabilities or those who will undoubtedly require long-term help, the Public Assistance Programme (PWD) will be linked to the ministry’s skills-training initiatives which will equip persons to earn a decent living for themselves and their families. Hoosein-Outar made specific reference to the programmes that will soon be offered by the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI), which is poised for rehabilitation and revival in the coming weeks. The West Coast Berbice ‘Board of Guardians’ comprise Lloyda Angus, Dunita Roopnaraine, Kamini Anantram, Salima Yacoob, Liloutie Singh, Vidyawattie Balram, Tajram Persaud, Deolall Bindra and Momin Sugrim. The Mahaicony ‘Guardians’ are Inderjeet Persaud, Narine Panchu, Deonarine Singh, Kawal Persaud, Rawl Richmond, Indrani Chaitram, Ramdeo Tooknauth and Mohamed Feisal Khan.