The progress of any country, nation,
society is driven by its human resource and the development of such; its
citizenry, its people, its skills and talents. Noting that, growth industries
and job creation are as a direct result of investment in ideas, and the only
true source of ideas is the human being. A population that is educated,
healthy, well-adjusted as a society, contributing in the community, supporting
culture and the arts, participating in competitive sport and encouraging the
youth, will build and maintain a happy, respectful, caring and sharing nation. The Human Development category consist of budgetary
allocations, 28.91%
of the nation’s total expenditure, as reported by the office of the Auditor
General 2018 and 29.18% in the 2019 revised estimates,
while estimating 28.83%
up by 5.95% for 2020, as published estimates
by the Ministry of Finance.
This is to execute policies, strategies and initiatives of the Ministries of Health, Education, Social Development and Family Services, Community Development, Culture and the Arts, and Sport and Youth Affairs.
This is to execute policies, strategies and initiatives of the Ministries of Health, Education, Social Development and Family Services, Community Development, Culture and the Arts, and Sport and Youth Affairs.
News from the previous period
The Ministry of Health has had some success, via its insect vector control unit, in collaboration with Local Government bodies, in cleaning and spraying, to manage the mosquito population. Publicity programs to keep surroundings clean and reduce mosquito borne diseases, similar to malaria or yellow fever and other public health hazards, remains ongoing in communities across the nation. Immunization has also been boosted at numerous health clinics. Post-Flood Food Safety tips are advertised, via traditional and social media, to educate the population. Wellness and Blood Donations are also highly promoted, as the citizenry is encouraged to move and keep active, by the ministry. In the previous period, the Ministry of Health also pursued infrastructural development at the nation's hospitals, clinics and dispensaries.
The Ministry of Education executed its
mandate, while having to reassess and adjust the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) system,
to remain relevant, easily accessible and available to all citizens who need
it. The Ministry had to develop strategies to deal with cases of
students violently disrupting schools' operations, specialty behavioral counseling
classes, suspensions, expulsions and youth imprisonment were employed. The main
challenge of this ministry was to get legal and financial control of its school
building, restoration, renovation and repair projects and contractors retained
by its Education Facilities Division.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family
Services has reviewed and tighten all its initiatives to ensure it reaches the
less fortunate members of society. The Social Welfare Division of the Ministry
is responsible for the equitable, transparent and timely provision of services
to meet the social and financial needs of assessed members of our
society. Among the suite of services offered in this division are senior
citizen’s pension, public assistance grant, disability grant, and other general
assistance.
The Ministry of Community Development, Culture
and the Arts, extended its annual events, with the launch of its Peer Mediation
which gives students the knowledge and skills to resolve their own conflicts in
a supervised controlled environment and its Reach Mentorship Programme which seeks to promote a new
generation of women leaders by cultivating skills that are critical for goal
attainment and success.
The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, along
with its standard support for annual programmes, was engaged in the promotion
of sporting icons locally and internationally, hosting initiatives to motivate
young citizens.
Within this current period
The Ministry of Health, with its estimated 31.27% of the Human Development funding for 2020, must remain vigilant to ensure the safety of the citizenry, especially pregnant women. Citizens are therefore urged to continue working with authorities in the eradication of mosquito breeding sites and to take all necessary precautions to avoid being bitten by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The Ministry is upgrading, building and strengthening its hospitals, clinics, mental or behavioral health facilities and Chemistry, Food & Drugs Division which is responsible for the administration of the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act and Regulations. The Ministry also continues its many initiatives and prevention (wellness & healthy lifestyles) programmes.
The Ministry of Education, allocated 34.76% of the Human Development
estimated budget for 2020,
through its Teaching and Teacher
Development Division offers a fundamental chance to orient, condition and to
fundamentally teach young people, preparing them for life and for citizenship.
The Ministry will continue a comprehensive, efficient, targeted, timely and
sustainable school maintenance programme to cope with the ageing school
infrastructure, utilizing Local Government bodies to implement the works. The
Ministry is currently engaged in outfitting all schools to benefit from
technological innovations and all students in all schools to have free and easy
access to fast Broadband Internet, while, incorporating tablet computers
and Internet access into the curriculum.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, 29.68% of the Human Development funding for 2020, continues to place focus on the vulnerable, marginalized and indigent in our society by ensuring that those targeted persons are able to receive help - on time and in appropriate measure when they reach out to the Ministry. In particular, the Ministry has, as one of its priority areas of focus, persons with disabilities, given the recently ratified UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities.
The Ministry of Community Development, Culture
and the Arts, 2.48%
of the Human Development estimated budget for 2020, operates Community Action for Revival and
Empowerment (CARE), Community Centres/Facilities, Community Development Fund
(CDF), Export Centres Company Limited, Community Mediation, National Commission
for Self Help Limited and the Prime Minister's Best Village Trophy Competition.
The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, 1.80% of the Human Development funding for 2020, is focused on opening a number of multipurpose facilities and selling or entering into management contracts with private operators for the benefit of the entire population.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
