Minister Demands Better Service During Unannounced Pouderoyen Office Visit

Guyana’s Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, has called for immediate improvements in customer service and the handling of applications after making an unannounced visit to the ministry’s Pouderoyen office in Region Three. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security officially lists Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, as its Region Three office. During the visit, Persaud questioned staff as she moved through the office and spoke directly with several people who were waiting for assistance. She made it clear that members of the public should not enter the office and be left sitting without knowing who will assist them. Persaud instructed staff that someone should approach visitors, determine what service they require and direct them appropriately. “That is the culture I want,” she told employees, adding that people should not be left to “sit and wait and wonder.” The minister also raised concerns after encountering boxes and stacks of documents at the office. Staff indicated that some of the documents represented applications that had already been processed, but Persaud questioned how the records were being organised and identified. She instructed that the documents be inventoried and organised, stressing that people’s paperwork should not be kept in a manner that could create uncertainty over its status. During the visit, Persaud also questioned staff about individual cases after several people said they had returned to the office seeking updates. One woman told the minister she had applied for assistance following a stroke, while another said she had submitted a medical-related application earlier in the year. Persaud questioned why applicants were being required to return to the office when updates could potentially be communicated to them. She instructed staff to contact applicants when applications are approved, rejected or require additional documentation. The minister also expressed concern about the financial and personal burden created when people have to make repeated trips to government offices. “This thing costs money. It costs people time,” Persaud said during the visit, stressing that many of those seeking assistance could ill afford repeated journeys. She told employees that where possible, a person’s issue should be addressed during the same visit rather than requiring them to repeatedly return. The visit forms part of Persaud’s publicly stated push for greater accountability and efficiency within the Human Services Ministry. In September 2025, she said the ministry would have “no room for complacency” and “no space for inefficiency” as it sought to strengthen delivery of services.