Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud calls on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society bodies to assist in implementing initiatives aimed at helping the vulnerable and the less fortunate.
Minister Persaud was delivering remarks at the 38th Installation Ceremony of the Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown Central held at the Herdmanston Lodge on Wednesday evening.
One such initiative the Human Services Minister alluded to was the Mentor Point Programme that would be launched for young people as she noted that mentorship is necessary for developing a young person.
According to the Minister, it will help these young people who are ageing out of state care to realise their full potential and have a plan for their life.
“So, what I’m proposing is that children who are ageing out of state care meaning by the time they hit 17, 18 years they do have to have a plan for life…..so I’m hoping that this club among many others can jump at this opportunity to decide to mentor.”
In addition, Dr Persaud said the ministry is looking to establish a National Task Force that will deal with taking homeless persons off the street and putting them into a housing facility.
This initiative, she said, requires collaboration from non-governmental organisations and civil society bodies.
“...Because sometimes the team would go out there, and they would downright tell you we’re not going with you. So we do have those very practical challenges, but I am looking for persons who have a vested interest in helping us to get those people into a better quality of life through the ministry, through our shelters, or through any other initiatives that your club could come up with.”
Minister Persaud is urging non-governmental organisations and civil society bodies to volunteer on the task force.
“If anyone from the club would like to volunteer to be on the task force, I welcome that because we’re going to roll out a plan to deal with homeless persons, getting them into care, into shelter, whether if it’s the Palms or the Night Shelter…pretty much clearing the streets of people.”
