Gov’t plugs Gy$5M into Salvation Army’s Drug Rehab Programme

By Vahnu Manikchand

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Friday handed over Gy$5 million to the Salvation Army to support its Drug Rehabilitation Programme.
The presentation was done at the Salvation Army Men’s Social Centre, Kingston, as they held the “Reunion of Present and Past Clients Dinner”. The Salvation Army had previously acquired a Gy$5 million subvention from the government earlier this year, making it a total subvention of Gy$ 10 million.
In presenting the cheque, the Finance Minister stated that the Drug Rehab Programme is an extremely good value for the money. “We believe every single citizen in Guyana, should be given the opportunity to fulfill their roles and aspire to play a meaningful role in society,” he said.
The minister also revealed that an additional Gy$15 million would be handed over to the organisation, and would be used to expand the building so that it can be opened to more Guyanese who are suffering from substance abuse and want to be reformed.
Dr Singh said he has had the privilege of visiting the Salvation Army for several years and had the honour of witnessing remarkable accomplishments by this organisation.
“I never ceased to be amazed at the impact of the Salvation Army on people’s lives”. He noted that because of the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehab Programme, affected persons are given the chance to reform, and continue thereafter to lead productive lives. This programme, he said, is the driving force of stories about people’s personal triumphs.
The minister went on to talk about substance abuse and how it can affect the lives of everyone, since he has seen it impede on the lives of school-aged persons and several professionals.
“None of us is exempt from substance abuse,” he noted, adding that affected persons should be grateful for the people around them who helped them to identify and accept that there was a problem.
The chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Edward Boyer, stated that over the past years, the rehabilitation programme has been very successful. He disclosed that the Salvation Army recently celebrated its 125th anniversary in the Caribbean, and on this note, he acknowledged the efforts of officers who came from other Caribbean countries to serve in Guyana.
He also gave recognition to the government of Guyana for supporting the Salvation Army, adding that the expansion of the Social Centre is a productive initiative.
Boyer also urged the clients present, to continue to keep up their efforts in abstaining from drugs, stating that it “is not how much you gave as a client, but the end result is that you would not come back to the programme”.