Registry being developed to ensure vulnerable benefit from social assistance

GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, September 22, 2016

The Ministry of Social Protection will be embarking on a series of community outreaches countrywide to develop a registry, to ensure that all vulnerable individuals and families are accounted for.

During a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence said that this initiative is one of the major projects the Ministry will be rolling out in 2017 to ensure that every Guyanese in need benefits from social assistance.

“Above all of that, one of our big projects is the single registry within the ministry so wherever persons would have approached the ministry whether it’s in the hinterland or in Regions 6, 5, 3 or Georgetown, once their data is captured in our system, another employee in another department can be able to be informed that this person is already receiving help here,” Minister Lawrence explained.

Minister Lawrence said that “for instance if someone goes to the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) for a job, that agency will be able to see that person’s information, whether they are already receiving public assistance or already has four children. The interviewer will then have an insight on what type of job they need to find for that person to meet their needs.”

This project will also help to strengthen the Ministry’s monitoring system of vulnerable families.

Additionally, the Ministry will be enforcing a stricter monitoring mechanism for state care institutions and privately owned children’s home, so as to ensure these institutions are adhering to protocols. An inspector will be employed to carry out this process.