Human Services Ministry has a 24-hour hotline

I wish to respond to the letter in Stabroek News of October 9 (‘Ministry of Human Services needs a hotline’) ostensibly from Mr Hydar Ally in which he states that that the Ministry of Human Services perhaps needs a special hotline dedicated to people in difficult situations, and to advise that this Ministry has a 24-hour hotline service managed by officers attached to the Child Care and Protection Agency.  The number is 227 0979 and it has been in operation since November 2009. I should also point out that this service is constantly being utilised by many public-spirited Guyanese, and as a consequence scores of children have been rescued from harmful and difficult situations. In fact during this current week more than five children were rescued as a result of persons using the hotline to contact the Child Care & Protection Agency.

Yours faithfully,
Trevor Thomas
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Labour, Human Services & Social Security