– Minister Persaud says, encourages persons to climb on board

THE Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud has announced a plan to make fostering a child accessible to every Guyanese who wants to do so, regardless of background or circumstance.

The was disclosed on Friday, following the graduation of 1,000 police ranks as part of the COPSQUAD initiative.

The law enforcement ranks were equipped with knowledge on how to handle domestic and gender-based violence cases effectively.

Minister Persaud urged the graduates to treat each case with the seriousness it deserves and do the kind of things that will ultimately lead to peace in the country.
Also present for the event held at the National Cultural Centre was Minister of Home Affairs, Robenson Benn, Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, UN Resident Coordinator, Yesim Oruc and other senior officers within the Guyana Police Force.

To date, approximately 1500 officers have been trained under this initiative and will be stationed in all 10 administrative regions.

According to Minister Persaud, the children in foster care programmes remain with their foster parents, hoping to be adopted, while some stay with foster parents until adulthood.
She added that they strengthen the bond between children and their foster parents.

“So, we learned that they enjoyed the last thing that we did, which was going to the movies and having that time of bonding and also entertainment, together. So, we’re planning a movie exercise for the foster parents and their charges,” she said.

The Minister continued: “We’re also looking at how we can give tokens of recognition to the foster parents. And we’re looking at how we can have more public awareness in this initiative; So they will not only be PSAs, but there will be a number of bumper stickers and a number of other ways that we will try to get the message out, so that more and more persons would come on board with the foster care programme.”

Minister Persaud noted further that persons are encouraged to visit the childcare and protection agency if they are interested in being foster parents, to learn more about what they’re required to have in order to be one.

“That foster parent will not always realise how important their intervention is in the life of a child, but it makes a complete difference to a child, to be in a loving home, versus an institution.”
She thanked the foster care parents around the country for continuing their roles in the lives of their foster child/ children.

The month of May is Foster Care Month and for more information, contact can be made to the Foster Care department on: 231 – 8423/ 592 227 – 4082 or via email fostercare.cpa@gmail.com.