Written by Tuesday, 16 March 2010 01:38

-Labour Minister

The Ministry of Labour in the coming months will be aggressively pursuing its campaign against child labour to eliminate this problem which is being experienced globally.

Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir made this announcement on the National Communications Network (NCN), RegionSix, during the Ministry’soutreach programme to the region over the period March 10 to 13.

The Minister noted that child labour continues to be a major issue and reiterated that employers found guilty of employing children under the age of 15 will be prosecuted.

National Policy on Domestic Violence in June of 2008, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has delivered, or is in the process of delivering on no less than five key areas of the policy.
According to Minister Priya Manickchand a Policy Implementation Unit was established simultaneously with the publication of the policy.

Ministers of Human Services and Social Security and Labour, Priya Manickchand and Manzoor Nadir respectively, this evening answered questions relating to their expenditure for 2010.
Minister Manickchand in responding to a question posed by the opposition, as to why the increase from 69 to 109 contracted employees which has increased the spending by $40M,  noted that the Ministry extended its child protection services and has established a Child Care and Protection Agency which has employees under it.

- Manickchand

Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand says that issues relating to women’s development will be a priority of her ministry for this year.

On Friday during the 2010 budget debate, Manickchand told the National Assembly, “This is going to be the year when women’s development is going to take the front burner of the ministry’s agenda.”

There are three main criticisms of this year’s budget.  These include –
-    LACK of VISION – No Clear and Overarching Strategy
-    Lack of competitiveness
-    Poor economic performance
-    VAT windfall

LACK of VISION – No Clear and Overarching Strategy
This PPPC government makes decisions which are focused on a target and based on  a rational process powered by the empirical data with the upliftment of all Guyanese as the goal.  

If you listen to detractors the government needs to present a feasibility plan for every action and have that plan approved by the National Assembly.  We make decisions based on information that gives a fair basis for success.  Remember the PPPC received a  mandate from the people to develop this country and our democracy has checks and balances for oversight.  But the formulation programmes and the implementation of these is the responsibility of the government of the day.

If these persons have their way we would never have a new Skeldon Sugar Factory, we would never have a National Cricket Stadium and with flood lights, we would not have a new ophthalmology center or a new linden hospital.  We would not put the building of a new track and field facility in this budget.  

In real income and expenditure terms one can successfully argue that an investment in the Berbice bridge and the stadium may not be feasible over 25 years. However, how do we put a value to the nation when a people feel proud to see a king Pele at the stadium, or the value of the time savings for all those who used to wait hours for a crossing in Berbice and the value to those in the Essequibo islands, Essequibo coast and Bartica for the improved ferry service they now receive as a result of the Berbice bridge.

- Minister Nadir in budget presentation
Government will continue to enhance existing training programmes for persons in various disciplines to ensure that the workforce receives training to enhance its earning capability and have a better quality of life.
Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, in his presentation yesterday during the 2010 Budget debate in the National Assembly, stated that this year, provision for workforce training has increased to provide a second chance to persons. The amount allocated in 2009 was $86M, while this year’s allocation is $120M.