RESIDENTS across several communities in Region Two welcomed Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud as she concluded a two-day outreach aimed at bringing government services closer to the people and addressing pressing social concerns.

The outreach saw Minister Persaud and her team visiting Capoey Mission, Onderneeming, Queenstown, and Good Hope where scores of residents gathered to engage directly with ministry officials on issues affecting their families and communities.

At Capoey Mission, Minister Persaud highlighted a number of government programmes designed to support vulnerable individuals and families. She spoke extensively on child protection, domestic violence, abuse prevention, and the range of social services available to citizens in need.

The minister encouraged residents to make full use of the support systems established by the government, and stressed the importance of protecting children and strengthening family structures.

Accompanying the minister were Permanent Secretary Dr. Erica Forte, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency Levine Gouveia, and other senior officials.

The team listened to concerns raised by residents, particularly those relating to the welfare and safety of children, while offering guidance and immediate interventions where necessary.

A major focus of the outreach was community engagement and problem-solving. At the Little Red Village Community Centre in Onderneeming, discussions centred on parenting challenges and childcare issues affecting families.

In response to concerns raised, Minister Persaud announced that Childcare and Protection Agency officers would be redeployed to the community to undertake targeted interventions and provide additional support to children and families requiring assistance.

The outreach also included a meeting with residents and persons living with disabilities in Queenstown, where issues relating to accessibility, welfare support, and social assistance were discussed. Many residents welcomed the opportunity to speak directly with the minister and ministry officials about their concerns.

The final meeting was held at Good Hope Primary School, where residents raised matters relating to old-age pensions, public assistance, childcare services, and other social support programmes. Ministry officials provided information on available services and outlined steps being taken to address concerns brought forward.

Minister Persaud assured residents that the issues highlighted throughout the outreach would not be ignored and would be addressed through the ministry’s ongoing programmes and interventions.

She noted that direct engagement with communities remains an important part of the ministry’s work, allowing officials to better understand the challenges facing citizens and respond with practical solutions.

The two-day outreach formed part of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s continued commitment to ensuring that support services reach every community and that residents have direct access to the assistance they need to improve their quality of life.