Sean Douglas
MINISTER of Social Style and Family Products and services Donna Cox stated her ministry has a whopping 175 vacancies, speaking on October 11 in the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives.
Mulling the budget, Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit had requested why the ministry’s allocation for salaries had risen by $400,000 for fiscal 2025 to $10.2 million, compared to $9.8 million spent last 365 days out of an initial estimate of $13 million.
Cox spoke back that the ministry has been hiring other folks to in part absorb its vacancies.
Replying extra to Mohit, Cox stated the ministry had 175 vacancies, consisting of “102 with our bodies and 73 with out our bodies.”
Mohit requested about these vacancies. “Given the case-load for officers in addition to the issue in addressing backlogs in the ministry, can you imprint what mechanisms are being contemplated to address the necessary shortfall in personnel at the ministry.”
Cox spoke back this could perhaps perhaps easiest be done by the Products and services Rate Division, with whom her ministry has been liaising.
“It is up to the Products and services Commissions Division. It is lower than us. Nevertheless we’ve been pushing.”
When Cox printed 18 vacancies in the National Family Products and services Division, Mohit lamented that used to be the same number as last 365 days.
When Mohit requested if the ministry had a issue to absorb the 18 posts, Cox stated yes. “I even have requested for a assembly with the director of Personnel Administration.”Cox stated crew of the ministry’s Citizen Engagement Unit were out in the arena serving to to certain a backlog of candidates for social assistance, at the side of crew from the Social Welfare Unit. Of the ancient she stated, “We have assigned some to intention dwelling visits.”
St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen lamented, “There used to be a famous backlog in the Tunapuna Social Welfare Place of work for some time. When intention you have faith you studied this could be handled?”
Cox stated the crew were doing “very wisely.”
Ameen requested if the minister may perhaps commit to giving a standing update in two months time, saying, “This impacts on St Augustine seriously.”
Cox spoke back, “I’m no longer certain I will provide that files as yet.”
Cox gave an update on the attach of dwelling of four social displacement centres, for which $5 million used to be spent last 365 days and $5 million allocated for fiscal 2025.
She stated the centre in Penal used to be 95 per cent carried out, Carapo House used to be 95 per cent carried out, Hernandez Situation used to be 100 per cent carried out and a centre for human trafficking victims used to be 75 per cent carried out. She stated it has been laborious to fetch accurate management to shuffle the Hernandez Situation centre.
Mohit requested concerning the Style Centre for People with Challenges, saying $2 million used to be spent on this last 365 days and $7 million allocated on this budget.
Cox in reply stated she hoped to have it carried out by next March, saying flooring tiles and an elevator wanted attention. “It indubitably shall be operational this 365 days.”
