$3.3B has been allocated for pensioners and $800m has been budgeted to meet targeted public assistance programmes this year.

Making his presentation of the 2009 Budget to the National Assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said that the $3.3B will be expended on old age pensions to over 40,000 pensioners and to pay water rates on behalf of the pensioners. Maintenance and rehabilitation of the Palms will be done while the reappointment of the Commission for the Elderly later this year is expected to accompany the development of minimum standards of operation for privately-run homes for the elderly, said the Minister.

He stated that $800M has been budgeted to meet targeted public assistance programmes, while $106.9m has been allocated for the construction of a new Amerindian Hostel. Further, $55M has been allotted for the school uniform programme which will benefit nearly 30 000 students and there will be provision of training to 1750 persons under the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE), including a newly incorporated skills for life element. There will also be continued upgrading of youth training centres at Kuru Kuru, Smythfield, Sophia and the New Opportunity Corps, catering for more than 300 youths aged 13 to 25 years at a cost of $22.5M, Dr. Singh said.

The Minister stated that increased focus will be placed on the legislative framework to protect women and to empower them to earn a living, provide for their families and enjoy a better quality of life.

He said that work is underway to reform sexual offences legislation, and is likely to be laid before the National Assembly this year.

The Single Parent programme will be launched this year and will include the provision of training for single parents so that they can enter the world of work or start a small business. It will also see the provision of small business project grants totalling $25M and the provision of vouchers to support low-income employed single parents in meeting the cost of day care at a cost of $8.8M. Greater emphasis will also be placed on incorporating entrepreneurial skills training into the life skills programme for women and, in 2009, a residential programme will recommence along with expanded training for women in hinterland communities in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9, Dr. Singh stated.