Over 4000 cases of child abuse were reported in 2011 and over half of those have been committed in Region Four, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Volda Lawrence told the National Assembly during the second day of budget debates on Wednesday.
She stated too that although the 2012 Budget is being presented on seven pillars, the current administration has forgotten to expand on how to actually conduct good governance and improve social services.
Lawrence said that currently 18 per cent of Guyanese live below the poverty line, and as a result, the current budget is “anti-poor, anti-ordinary citizen”. Lawrence noted that of the initiatives in place, not one is accommodating to women’s needs, noting that, “it is in fact that whenever women’s voices are heard,” women rights, fertility rights, equal pay distribution are able to be advanced.
The opposition MP called on the government to look into the money being spent on human service and social programmes that assist women in their struggle for equality.
The increase in sexual violence and the ongoing prevalence of workplace sexual harassment were also issues that Lawrence called on the current administration to address.
Member of Parliament (MP) Volda Lawrence
Lawrence also called on the administration to review the sum awarded to the elderly. “The 300 residents at the Palms [Geriatric Home] remind us that families are at their breaking points,” noted Lawrence.
Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster in response, chastised the opposition member for her inability to fully appreciate the work that has been done by government to look after the elderly. On this note, Webster mentioned the abolishment of the means test in 1992, which was used to measure the eligibility of pensioners.
She said that the “prudent fiscal management of Guyanese economy” has enabled “significant increases in the pension from 2006 to 2012”.
The minister noted that the National Commission for the Elderly in the not too distant future will address the psychological needs of the elderly, among other issues like the treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “Emphasis will be placed on institutional care”, in regard to the Palms, the minister said.
Webster noted that the social well being of the elderly was not the only way in which the current budget will be benefitting the most vulnerable and the elderly, as the administration is also investing in “direct financial subsidy for water”.
The minister noted that while violence against women is an issue, government has implemented several initiatives including the Women of Worth programme (WoW) to empower women. Webster stated that 824 women so far have benefited from the WoW programme, which she believes demonstrates that the administration is effective in women empowerment, and working towards gender equality in Guyana.
