A team including ministers Priya Manickchand and Robeson Benn resettled 44 roving street dwellers at the La Penitence Night Shelter earlier this week.
A press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said the itinerant persons had been previously informed of the services provided at the Shelter as well as at the human services ministry. The ministers along with police ranks and other human service ministry officials relocated them to the new structure which can now accommodate about 250 persons. The new structure has additional bath and toilet facilities and will soon be completed. Also, additional fans and lights will soon be installed.
According to GINA on the first night the exercise was conducted in Leopold Street and near the La Penitence and Bourda markets. Manickchand said too the challenge is not finding persons willing to go to the facility but rather sustaining their desire to live there. She said the Shelter’s success will depend on collaborative efforts from all stakeholders. The minister said she hopes the services offered at the Shelter: three meals per day, a change of clothing, medical check-ups, free toiletries, clean beds and a secure environment, would motivate persons to stay off the streets. Beds were acquired with the help of Dr Shanti Singh, Programme Manager at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat.
GINA also said Dr Bhiro Harry, Senior Consultant, Psychiatric Department, Ministry of Health, was on hand with a team of medical personnel, offering psychiatric evaluations, blood pressure testing and making treatment recommendations. The ministry plans to separate persons with mental health conditions from the other occupants since cohabitation could prove problematic.
Administrator of the Shelter Harrydat Tilku said every Thursday a volunteer doctor conducts consultations and there will be periodic checks by the medical team. The Shelter currently houses 29 women and from 100 to 120 men. They are housed in separate quarters. It keeps a register to keep track of those persons utilizing the facility. Also, the Shelter will soon benefit from about 80 lockers for the storage of personal possessions. The shelter employs a registry system to keep track of those persons utilizing the facility and to have an idea of how many persons are recurrent and how many have reneged on their promise to keep off the streets.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon at a press briefing on Wednesday noted that the removal of the homeless persons will be matched by an aggressive campaign to enforce the laws against littering.
well done keep up the good work
This is to clear the streets of the homeless before the Caricom heads of government conference starting July 2, 2009. After the conference there will be no urgency to see these people off the streets. Sorry to rain on your parade.
… tho she may yet be a “mother” ,,,, Minister Priya is showing how much of a motherly compassion she is made of ! by acts of this nature ,,
now for all who is destiitute in GUYANA should be in her care ,, and that she must dilligently work to find if they have kids ,, and make them contribute to their up keep while in govt care ,,
it does not have to be monetary ,, but their “time” will go a long way to show their “love and respect” !….
Now help the Ministry, those of us in the US, Canada and England by sending clothing and small money donations to the shelter. I will seek assistance from the New York consulate. Come on bloggers, its a worthy cause. ISNM
CALLING ON BLOGGERS IS A GOOD IDEA.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT.
TALK IS CHEAP BUT WHISKY COST MONEY.
NOW LOOK AT THEIR RESPONCE.
only l/nite i was thinking of sending my retired top of the line “progressives” in a frame this is for all seasons to GUYANA ,, to help with the sight of one of our “treasures’….
so to Ulric ,, and BishnuR ,, i say ,, with all of my heart in this ,, plz ,, let me know where i can send my contribution !..
WE r ,,,, becuse of them ,, and no ammount of anything is enuff for them……
Very nice.It is good not to hear detactors uselessly involve PPP, PNC, UF, AFC,whatever in this scenario? However, some street dwellers will be found still not wanting to live in shelters.They would say they truly value their own freedom.These should be further assisted to shelters in the New River area, given homesteads there, and have them found a new settlement.
That Right! these vulnerable and unfortunate members of the society should be offered education, skills training, finance, loans, land in the untapped and fertile interior – with the neccessary infrastructure, away from the flood prone coastal areas, for them to start a small business, particularly agro business and, help to move them off government handouts and other forms of charity.
Poor and vulnerable members of the society, should be helped to be productive, independent and proud of their place and role; not dependents of the state or NGO’s.
Institutional charity and ‘band aid’ policy, will not solve the problem of homelessness, street- dwellers and vagrants. A long term and sustainable solution, is to help these members of the society become productive and prideful of themselves.
If, hundreds of millions of dollars can be found for perks and privilege for ex presidents, a stadium, Carifesta, political patronage and cronyism, the ‘prado lifestyles’ etc., then, it should be found to help the poor and vulnerable in the society, in removing their economic insecurity and fear.