70
199.
Under the Poverty Alleviation Programme which consists of the Community
Based Micro Credit System and the Expansion of the Community Based Telecentres,
work did not proceed as planned. A re-assessment and revaluation of the Community
Based Micro Credit System commenced in fiscal 2013. The expansion of the community
based telecentres under the Ministry of Social Development encountered difficulties in
acquiring the sites for establishing the Telecentres.
200.
The sum of $18.6 million was expended for the implementation of projects related
to Gender and Child Development. In 2013, the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child
Development focused was on the advancement of its construction and refurbishment
projects with over fifty per cent (50%) of its Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP)
allocation geared towards improving the lives of youth and children through the
establishment of facilities such as Model Children‟s Homes, Transition Homes and
Assessment Centres.
201.
Additionally, the Ministry continued to place special emphasis on reducing the
incidence of domestic violence through the establishment of Safe Homes and the
provision of support to women and children. Given that these projects were in the pre-
investment phase which involved the selection and acquisition of sites and the
preparation of preliminary designs, the expectation was that the preparatory work would
have been advanced to the stage where the final designs and drawings and the
engagement of contractors would have been completed.
202.
The unavailability of sites for most of the facilities stymied the advancement of
the preparatory work. Attempts were made to identify suitable buildings for rental or
acquisition so that service delivery will not be delayed due to the unavailability of sites.
203.
The Children‟s Authority has also sought to explore alternatives for the
establishment of Assessment Centres. The Authority approached the Eric Williams
Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), which agreed to the establishment of an
Assessment Centre at that facility. One Assessment Centre will be constructed at the
Ministry‟s property in Chaguanas and another is expected to be established in St
Madeleine. Significant progress was made in the advancement of children‟s rights
through the implementation of advocacy and awareness programmes and the
development of standards for community residences. The sum of $5 million was given to
the Children‟s Authority to advance their course.
204.
A number of Non-Governmental Organisations have been assisted through the
provision of funding for youth and child programmes. The Ministry oversaw the opening
of a new wing at the St. Michael‟s Home for Boys, undertook the expansion of the
Gatekeepers programme and assisted the Salvation Army, St. Dominic‟s and St Mary‟s
Homes for Children for the refurbishment of facilities. These initiatives were undertaken
at a cost of $1.7 million.
