More support for vulnerable groups in Budget 2026 – Minister Persaud

As the Budget Debate continued on Monday, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, vowed that support for vulnerable groups across the country will be expanded.

Group by group, the minister outlined what programmes are ongoing and how those will be expanded through investments from Budget 2026 and subsequent spending plans.

For women, Dr. Persaud said more efforts are being made to ensure that they are financially independent. Those efforts include training programmes and startup finances, initiatives which will expand this year.

She also spoke about children. Early childhood development initiatives in Guyana, she said, have been providing much-needed support to working parents and children. One initiative is the day and night care centre for children in Region Three, a venture Dr. Persaud said will be expanded to other regions.

Dr. Persaud also addressed the worrying situation of child abuse.

“Child abuse is a very serious issue, and we take it very seriously at all levels of the ministry. (We have seen a) consistent reduction in the number of cases, from over 4,000 cases to over 3,000 cases. That’s still too much, but we are working to make sure every child is safe,” she said.

About 30,000 persons with permanent disabilities and thousands of Guyana’s elderly folks will also receive support through Budget 2026, Dr. Persaud said. That support will come through new facilities for them alongside direct transfers meant to support their daily needs.

Before Dr. Persaud’s contribution, WIN Parliamentarian Natasha Singh- Lewis spoke about the social security sector. In a highly critical contribution, she lamented the challenges that continue to plague society’s most vulnerable— children who are abused, women grappling with violence, and persons with disabilities forced to navigate their unique challenges.

The Human Services Minister agreed that these vulnerable groups grapple with many challenges but backed Budget 2026, stating that it will help to provide them with much-needed support.