The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Monday rolled out a project to bring an end to instances of children begging on the streets across the country.
The “Street Light Project” was launched along the Vlissengen Road avenue, near the intersection with Sandy Babb Street, which is one of many locations where children can be seen soliciting from motorists during stops at the traffic lights.
The project will see Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) officers patrolling countrywide under the initiative and Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud said that “over 30 children in the city have been removed so far.”
“We want a country where there is no child on the street. If that child needs shelter, and food, and education and everything else that is a child’s right, the ministry is committed to providing that,” Persaud stated at the launch.
Against this background, Persaud warned persons against giving money to children they see begging on the streets and instead report them given that they are risk of exposure to exploitation and abuse. Persons were advised to use the ministry’s emergency toll-free hotline, 914. Concerned persons can also contact the CPA 225-1254 or 231-8405 to make reports.
Persaud said the ministry is also committed to working with the parents and the family to ensuring that when a child goes back into the family’s care, their needs would be met and she noted that a database would be created and follow ups would be done to ensure that they have stability in their lives.
She also acknowledged the importance of looking deeper into the cases to see what triggers are responsible for children ended up on the streets and why their parents are not integrally involved in supervising them.
The ministry will be collaborating with the Ministry of Home affairs, and the Guyana Police Force under the initiative.
The project’s launch was part of activities for Child Protection Week, which is being observed under the theme, “Keeping Children Safe through Community Collaboration.”
Among those present were UN Resident Coordinator Yesim Oruc, UNICEF Representative Irfan Akhtar, acting Director of the CPA Tiona October, Assistant Director of the CPA Levine Gouveia, CPA Officers and ranks from the Guyana Police Force.
