Human Services Ministry embarks on new chapter promising zero tolerance for complacency and inefficiency

Complacency and inefficiency will find no place in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security as it embarks on a new term of service, Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud declared on Monday.

She made the commitment during the first management meeting held with the Ministry’s newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Dr Erica Forte, at the Palms Geriatric Home.

The meeting brought together Heads of Department from the Ministry’s three core programmes—Administration, Social Services, and Childcare—setting the stage for strengthened collaboration, strategic planning, and improved delivery of services to Guyana’s most vulnerable citizens.

Minister Persaud reminded her team of the Ministry’s mandate, stressing that over the next five years the work must be grounded in inclusivity, accessibility, and compassion, while actively addressing the needs of children, seniors, persons living with disabilities, and families across the country.

“We have accomplished a significant amount of work over the past five years, and in the next five years, we will be hitting the ground running. I want to assure you that there will be no room for complacency, no space for inefficiency, and no tolerance for ineffectiveness,” Dr Persaud asserted.

As part of the agenda, each Head of Department provided updates on operations, with a focus on planning and finance, ensuring that both the Minister and Dr Forte were fully briefed on current challenges and opportunities.

The discussions paved the way for strategies to enhance the quality, reach, and impact of services, marking the start of a renewed chapter for the Ministry underpinned by efficiency, accountability, and a people-centred approach.