Only some regions getting SIMAP projects - PNC MP Lawrence More workers for probation department By Miranda La Rose Stabroek News April 8, 2000 People's National Congress MP Volda Lawrence has lamented the inability of the understaffed welfare and probation department to execute its mandate while the subject minister Indra Chandarpal countered that more workers are to be engaged this year. Lawrence during Tuesday's budget debate said that in spite of government's rhetoric that Guyana is on the move and that the country is better under the current administration "with all these blessings, there is a massive increase in suicide, functional illiteracy, unemployment, drug abuse, abuse of women and children and migration". In the hushed parliament chambers she said with sarcasm that "supporters of the PPP (People's Progressive Party/Civic) love them so much that they are paying US$10,000 to run, run, run." In what was probably the longest speech delivered by any of the PNC MPs that day, Lawrence said that in spite of what Minister of Human Services and Social Security Chandarpal had to say in her presentation, last year saw an increase in the number of juvenile offences as compared with 1998. Apart from juveniles held for criminal offences, there are those taken off the streets and kept in six 15 x 7 cells at Camp House, a police detention centre for male juveniles. The cells, which house up to 267 children at a time, she said have no mattresses, are dark and the stench is overwhelming as toilets are filled and overflowing. Residents of the cells suffer from ring-worm, scabies and swollen testicles, while food, clothing and medical facilities are lacking. Generally, three children between the ages of 10 to 16 are picked up daily, she said. Some 80% of the children's parents or guardians are not informed and six out of every ten come from families with stepfathers and stepmothers. Physical abuse is normally endured at Camp House. She claimed that 38.4% of the boys are there just under a year while 23% are there for over three months. Six out of every ten have admitted to stealing because of hunger. The Probation and Welfare Department of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Lawrence said continues to operate with merely 16 officers when its strength should be 37. Chandarpal in her presentation admitted that there were a number of vacancies and while she needed the staff she was hamstrung by the fact that the ministry had not been authorised to employ them. However, provision is made in this year's budget to engage more social workers. Lawrence claimed that there is "positive discrimination" and abuse of a part of an allocated $5 million grant under the guise of persons in difficult circumstances grant. Several social workers, she said view the disbursement as paying spoils. She alleged that several cases were prepared at the ministry and sums less than $10,000 and in some cases over $10,000 were sent to the Ministry of Finance for payment but they were never disbursed. In reply to the charges, Chandarpal said that the ministry is aware of a number of social problems and work is being done in several areas including non-governmental organisations which government supports. Contrary to charges of racial discrimination as to who the ministry assists, Chandarpal said that she was happy to disclose that of the persons given financial assistance from September to December of last year, 254 were of East Indian descent and 252 were of African descent. Continuing, Lawrence claimed that abuse at the New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast is well known. The staff at this institution is not well-trained and eight out of every ten cannot read or write properly. Responding to queries about the school welfare programme, the night shelter and the national consultation on the rights of the child, Chandarpal noted that her ministry and the Ministry of Education are collaborating on the issue of the welfare programme and that work was ongoing on the night shelter. The night shelter is due to be opened shortly. The minister said that there are about 450 people on the streets including the homeless, the drug addicts and street children. When the night shelter is finished some 200 will be given accommodation on any given night. She said that the residents will be given fresh items of clothing and a meal. She is calling on members of the public to assist in this venture. Lawrence argued that there are neither policies nor programmes in place to assist families, especially those in rural areas where job opportunities are almost nil. However, Chandarpal responded by saying that the ministry had set up a National Commission for the Family in October 1998 and has launched a series of consultations on a family code. The consultations are being held countrywide and submissions are invited. Dealing with other social issues, Lawrence recommended that alcoholic beverages and cigarette advertisements in the print and electronic media carry some warning as to the possible side effects or after effects of consumption and use of beverages and cigarettes; that lotto advertisements in the media should carry notices that children under 18 years of age are not allowed to purchase tickets; and that infrastructure in public buildings take into consideration persons with physical disabilities. For example she suggested that a start could be made with the extension of the National Library. Quoting figures for projects awarded and completed by the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) in 1998 and 1999, Lawrence charged that the relief agency was being used for political means by the party in government. Lawrence said that Regions 1, 4, 7, 9 and 10 had far less contracts awarded them than Regions 2, 3, 5 and 6. Region One had no SIMAP project awarded in 1998 and two awarded last year; Region Four, 18 completed in 1998 and 13 awarded last year; Region Five, none was awarded in 1998 and five awarded last year; Region Seven, none awarded in 1998 and one awarded last year; Region Nine, four was completed in 1998 and three awarded last year; and Region Ten, three completed in 1998 and four last year. The "favoured regions", Region Two completed seven in 1998 and was awarded eight last year; Region Three completed seven in 1998 and was awarded five in 1999; and Region Six completed eight in 1998 and eight were awarded last year. In relation to SIMAP Chandarpal said that the body was autonomous and not under her purview. She could not respond to every charge and query because time was against her. Nevertheless, she said that her office was open to the public each Wednesday and she was willing to deal with the issues then. Lawrence also feels that the Emergency Relief Mechanism Project (ERMP) is also being used as a political instrument. Food on this project is obtained from the World Food Programme (WFP) for infrastructural development work. At present, she said that food distributed on the programme can be found on sale in shops, "especially in those politically favoured areas". The criteria for distribution of foodstuff on this project, she said, is not being followed noting that 50% of the total infrastructural projects completed last year and for which food was granted were done in Regions Two, Three and Four. Ongoing projects begun last year increased to about 80%. Stating that one can only relate this to the upcoming elections, she added that "time will tell".