Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698077282880.pdf (Guyana)
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DEP-4RW!ENT, Bri_ckdarn, Georgetown,.

Septemter, 1961.

Sir, I have the honour to forward the Annual Report of the Social Assistance Department for the year 196o.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, ;,tr ) j I ~.tJ Ci,,~ , .i_ -· .. ... --, Secretary, .. 1--- Poor Law Commissioners.
The Honourable Minister of Education and Social Development, Mini sterial Building., High Street.,· GEDRGE'IDWN • ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 196o I - FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPART.MENT The Social Assistance Department provides the administrative organisation for carrying out the .duties vested in t he Lo cal Board of Poor Law Commissioners and Dis trict Local Boards and prescribed in the Poor.Relief and Ol d Age Pensions Ordinance, Chapt ers 62 and 63 respectively.

2.
The statutory functions of the Board of Poor Law Commissioners are briefly: - (a) (b) ( c) (d) 3. t he gr ant of ass istance , mainly cash allowances to persons under 65 year s of age who ar.e destitute and unabl e to earn sufficient for their maintenance; t he deter mination of the claims for Old Age Pensions payabl e to persons·in Geor getown satisfying certain conditi ons abo ut age, nat i onality, residence and means ; the control of II The Palms II which provides free accommodation and meals mainly for aged pers ons who ar e either destitute and homeless or in need of con t inuous medical care and nursing help; the gr ant of ass istal'l.ce at a~y ·time · inc ases~ necessity to those r equiring it.
In addition, the Department undertakes (a) (b) Inves tigations on behalf of other Government Departments, Welfare Organisations both local a nd overseas; · secret arial duties of the Adoption Boa r d, the sol e authority for making arrangements for the adoption of children and the Appeal Board established f or the purpose of hearing appeals f r om the·decision of any appr opriate authority refusing t he cl aims of pers ons for pension; (c) the administration of gr ants to instit utions run by voluntary organisations and catering for the des titute and orphans.
II - EXPEND I1URE Funds for Publi c Assist ance , Old Age Pension, "The Palms11 , grants t o I nstitutions and administrative expenses ar e provided by the Legislative Council.

The total expenditure incurred during 1960 was $1,837,860 compared with a total of $1., 757 .,300 spe~t for these purposes in 1959.
Det ail s ar e as follows:- 1960 1959 Increase LL0,52ci Public Ass i s t ance 945,960 Ol d Age Pensions 152,930 11The Palms" 14,880 Grant s to Institutions Admi nistrative Expenses 283,570 400,290 935,390 138,66o 12,350 270,610 40,230 10,57~1 14,270 2,SJO 12,990 $1,837,860$1.,757,300 $80,560 / The increase ....... - 2 - · ..

The -increase .
The -increase .

in the numb.er .. :of persons pl aced on the Public Assis t ance and Old Age Pension registers was responsible for 63% of the additional amount spent in 1960 as compared with 1959.

Administrative costs amounted to 15% of the total expenditure.

III ADMilHSTRATION (a) Board of Poor Law Commissioners and Loca l Boards During this year there were two changes in the membership of the Board, Canon R. Grey was appointed in place of Canon H.E.
Worlledge who resigned on the ground of ill-health and Pandit M.P.

Sharma took the place of Rev.

R.S.

Russell who left the country.

The personnel of the Board is as follows: - I .R.B.

Robinson, Esq.

, E.D ., Social Welfare Offi cer - Chairman Dr. L.S.

Jaikaran, Medical Officer, 11The Palms11 - Vice-Chairman Mrs .

A. Singh, M.B.E.

Miss G. I-I .

Collins Very Rev, Fr.

P. McCaffrey, S.J.

Canon R, Grey Moulvi N .A.

N:1.-:::ir Pandit M.P.


Sharma Major M.J. de Boer, Divisonal Commander, Salvation Arrrry.

,-, .

•, Mr. I.R.B.

Robinson, Chairman proceeded on vacation leave on 16th September, 1960 and Mr. F,C.R.

Polla1d, ac ting S,ocial Welfare Officer, was appointed to act as Chairman.
· · The Board meets each month to consider applications for Public Ass istance, cl aims from persons r esiding in Georgetown for Old Age Pensions, app+ications for special grants to purchase spectacles, artificial limbs, etc .

, and matters connected with the ·administration of 11The Palms11 • The District Local Boards of the 19 Social Asrdstance ,· districts into whic_h the country i s divided also.

meet r egularly to consider similar applications and make reconnnenda tions t o t he central.
Board in the cases of persons applying for special grants.

The Chairman of each district board is a public offic er, usually the Assistant District Cormnissioner .

The Central Board has the power to alter the amount of Public Assistance provided by the district Boards, direct it to be discontinued, or direct that any relief discontinued be _restored.
In .the case of Old Age Pension, the Centr al Board and the Local Boards function independentl y as the "Appropriate Authority11 under the Old Age Pension Ordinance, Chapter 63.

Rejected cl aimnants have the right to appeal to an inde pendent Statutory Appeal Board.
(b) Staff of the Department The executi ve functions of the'Board of Poor Law· 'Commissioners and Local District Boards ar e performed by the following -staff: - • Secret ary, Poor Law Commissioners and Superintendent, .. "The Palms " Ass istant Secretary, Poor Law Commissioner s Clerical Establishment Public A·ssistance Officers J Supervisors 11 Senior .

Officers .
Officers .

.d.2_ Office;rs,_ 27 1 1 7 27 / Child Wel fare Officer •• J.,/ ~1 r ,;JP '"i - 3 - Chil d Welfare Officer Messenger "The Pa]llls 11 Warden Iss uer Clerk Ward Sisters .

Staff Nurses, Uncertified Nurses, Nurses r Aides; Seamstresses, Ward Maids, Laun dresses, Gatemen, Cooks., ·Porters, Cari:enters 1 1 1 · 1 .
1· 8 81 51 181 (The Medical .Officer, Dispenser and Matron of 11The Palns" are membe.rs of the staff of the Medical Department) It is the duty of Public Assistance· Officers to make full and careful enquiries into the circumstanc·es of all applicants for Public Assistance and claimnants for Old Age Pension.

They furnish written reports on e~1?h ·ap·pli'ca;'j;ion and cl aim to' the Board of the District to which -they are attached for consideration and decis i on.
Records and accounts ar e ce.ntralized in Georgetown by Head Office Staff, but dis trio·~ officers are also required to keep local records of cases and transactions of their Boards .

(c) Staff Changes Mi ss S .A.

Christiani assumed duty on 1st March, 1960 from the Chief Secretary's Office vice Miss D.J.

Gill who resigned with effect from 18th February, 19~ Mr. A .

I. Carroll was appointed Warden, 11 The Palms 11 with effect from 1st Marc h, 1960 vice Mr. O.rGe Dennison retired.

Mr .
Mr .

D. Lord, was appointed Issuer "The Palms 11 with effec t from 1st March, 1960 vice Mr .

A. I~ Carroll pr omoted .

Mr .

F. R. Foo ~as appointed Temporary Class II ·Clerk with effec~ from 19t~ May, 1960 ~ Mr. L.C.

Romalho on vacation leave .

Miss D.A.

Bourne assumed duty on 16th June, 1960 from the Land Development Department vice Miss H.A.

Deane transferred to the Civil Aviation Department .

- - Miss D.E .
- - Miss D.E .

Collins, Woman Child We lfare Officer was grant ed st~dy l eave with effect from 30th July, 1960 to pursue a 2- year course in Social Devel opment at the _University College of Swansea, Wales.

Consequently, Mi ss P. Mass~y was appointed to a ct as Woman Child Welfare Officer with.

effect from 1st August, 1960.

It is with regret that the death of Mr .

Nazim Khan, Senior ~ Public Assistance Officer on 5th August, 1960 is reported .

Mr. W. J .
Mr. W. J .

Matthews was appoblted Senior Public Assi s tance Office'r with eff ect f11om, 6_th August, 1960 ~ Mr .

Nazim Khan deceased.

: C : .

I / The.

following • • • ; - 4 - The following officers were on vacation leave during the year:- Messrs. L.C.

Romalho, A. Choy, s. Anand, G. Kerrutt, and W.A.

Barrington.

Mr. J.R. Katchay, Public Assistance Officer was appointed Senior Public Assistance Officer with effect from 1st October, 1960 vice Mr. H.R.

Sahadeo, dismissed .


The following Staff Nurses, 11The Palrns 11 were appointed to act as Ward Sisters:- Mrs. B. Matthews vice Miss G, Rupert retired with effect froin'Tst January, 1960 Mrs. L. Witter, vice Miss W.E.

Seibs on pre-retirement leave with effect from 1st January, 1960 Mr.s.

N. Nials vice Miss C.V. Wilson, retired with effect from 1st October, 1960 " - " 'r Mrs. R. Perreira vice Miss M.N.
Simmons with effect from 11th October, 1960 Miss M. Simmons to a ct Junior Departmental Sister vice Miss G. Rupert with effect from 11th October, 1960 Mrs. Rita Charles, S.R.N.,S.C.M., was appointed Temporary Departmental Sister 11The Palms", vice Miss A. Too-Chung on vacation l eave: - - .

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~ IV - SOCIAL ASSISTANCE Ca) Public Assistance.

The payoo nt of monthly c·ash grants is the principal form of Public Assistance given both in Georgetown and the country districts.
The rates are:- Minimum Maximum Georgetown Other Districts $4.00 $J.OO $7 • .50 $.5 • .50 Public Assistance is .nonnally granted to persons destitute from specific causes including sickness, incapacity from blindness or loss of a limb and lack of resources because • of the deatq of the bread-winner in the farr,tily and the insufficienoy of the earnings of the other members of the family.

L The means ,test applied to applicants is $12 .oo a month for Georgetown and $lo.do a month for other districts.
A woman who is head of the household and is working for wages less than $12.00 a month may be granted assistance in respect of each dependent child.

During the year 3,246 families applied for Public Assistance with.

the following results:- App~ications Approved Rejected Pending at 31st December, 1960 1.,795 8.54 .597 Applications are approved for periods ranging from 3 months to .a year.
At the end of ithe period the cases are reviewed to deter mine whether the c·ircumstances still merit the grant of assistance.

A total of 3,893 cases were reviewed by the Boards as a resul, of which 1,3~?

were discontinued becaused of improvea circumstances an& the /remainder'.

, r ; ~ I ;i I - 5 - remainder allowed to continue for further specified periods.
Two hundred and forty-one persons in receii:t of Public Assistance attained the age of 65 years, and were transferred to the Old Age Pension Register.

As indicated in the following table, there has been an increase of 876 families in the care of the Department i n the past three years.
Georgetown Demerara (including Georgetown) Berbice Essequibo(including Essequibo Islands) 1958 1,490 2.,135 1,143 1959 1,604 2.,331 1.,532 644 709 5,l.i12 6.,176 196o 1.,512 2,578 l,478 72(') 6.,288 - At the end of 1960 there were 6.,288 families comprising l.i,194 adults and 6.,115 children in •· Briti.sh Guiana receiving financial assistance because of poverty and distress.
(b) Old Age Pension U:mrler the non-contributory Old Age Pens ion Scheme whioh came into operation in 1945, persons resident in Georgetown are granted a pens ion of $7.50 a month am those in other districts $5.50 a month.

In order to qualify for an Old Age Pension a claimant.

must be 65 years of age or over.

He must have been a British subject for at least lOyears and resident in British Guiana for twenty years immediately preceding the claim.
He is not disqualified on this ground if he was temporarily absent from the ~ountry for an aggregate period not exceeding two years.

Finally his monthly income as calcu l at ed under the Old Age Pension Ordinance, Chapter 63 must not exceed $12.00 in Georgetown and $10.00 in other districts.

Pensions are not paid to persons in public or charitable institutions which provide board or lodging without charge, in prisons or absent from the country.

All these conditions apply equally to women as to men.
At the 31st December, 1959 there was a total of 13,147 persons on the pens ions Register.

During the .year 1960, 1,.503 persons wer e added making a total of 11;,650 the number t aken off through death or disqualification was 1,186 leaving 13,464 pensioners on the Register at the end of the year.

There was therefore an increase of 317 over the 1959 total.

During the year 1960 a total of 2,073 claims were received by the Department.
Of these 1,503 were approved and 382 rejected and the remainder of 188 were pen:l ing at the end of the year.

The following table shows tre number of pensioners on the register for the pe.st· three years:- , I 1955 .... - 6 - Georgetown Demerara (including Georgetown) Essequibo (including Essequibo Islands) Ber bice .

.. ... 1958 4, 368 1959 4,454 1960 4,545 Li , 549 4,570 4,781 1,343 .. 1,354 2,554 2,769 1,369 2,769 12,811.i.
13,lii7 13,464 The membership of the Appeal Board r emained the same as in prev~ous years • .

The per sonnel is as follo~s:- AE~al Board - Chainnan The Solicitor-General The Crown Solicitor The De.puty Direc tor of Medical Servi ces The Social Welfare Officer The Mayor of Georgetown; with The Secretary, Poor Law Commissioners , who pe~forms the duti es of Secretary to the Board.

The Board met on three occasions during the year and heard 42 (forty-two) appeals from decisions of Appropriate Authorities.
Ten (10) were allowed, thirty (30) dismissed and the remaining two (2) deferred.

( C) Other forms of assistance The Poor Law Commissioners appr oved other forms of assist ance as follows:- (i) free ·buria~ to per sons whose .

relatives were unable to pay.

This service cost $1,110 against $1,330 for the year 1959; .

(ii) ((ill} free passages to stranded persons tor eturn to their homes and to seek medical t r eatment and advioe.
These were .valued at $1,990, a decrease of $860 on the amount spent for this purpose in 1959; the provisi9n of spectacles to 15 school children who needed them to overcome the handicap of defecti ve -~tsion; artificial legs to 4 adults, apecia lly 9uilt .

boots for 3 persons and part-cost of a heari~g-ai d f or one adult for rehabiliatitive purposes ; (iv) .

two wheel chairs for invalided adults.


Medical treatment .and medicines are supplied free of cost, by the Medic al Department to persons "r ecomme nded by the Department, amd free summonses are i ssued by Magistrates Courts to wives and mothe rs applying for mai~t enance and affiliation orders .

Recommend• ations for the issue of summonses ·are only made after attempts at reconciliation or efforts t o persuade husbands and fathers to maintain their famiit~ 9 have failed.

I V - CHIID WEIF ARE . )


, j I , - 7 - V CHIU) WEIF ARE On the 1st January, 1960 ther e were 1,392 in 548 families receiving Public Assistance.

During the year, 324 children in 136 families were granted Public Assistance and ~46 in 153 families were discontinued.

At t he end of the year ther e were 1,263 children in 531 families receiying Public Assistance.
Discontinuance of Public Assistance was due to improved or changed circumstances, r emoval from the district, death or children attaining the age of fourt een year s and leaving school.

Visits we r e faid to homes of f amilie s who receive Public Assistance for their children and to the guardians of the Beneficiaries of t he Mitchell Trust Fund.

School clothing (shirts, trous ers, kimonas, blouses, at:rts etc . )

was distributed t o children atten.din~ the various schools.
One thousand, six hundred and twenty one (l.~621) children.

received cl othing.

· (b) Adoption of children The Adoption Board which is the statutory authority for arranging the legal adoption cf children in British Guiana was established in 1957 under the chairmanship of a r etir ed Judge of the Supreme Court.

The duties of Secretary are performed by the 2,::-:::-et ary., Poor Law Commissioners.
It is the duty of the Board - (a) (b) to receive applications from .parents, guardians and adopters in r es pe ct of the adoption of childre n; to make such inves tigations concerning the adoption of childr en for the cons i deration of the court as may be prescribed; and (c) to act· as guardian ad litem of any child in r espect .

of wh~m an adoptionorder is sought~ During 1959, 47 applications were ::-cce~vcd.
The Board was appointed guar dian ad litem in 34 cases which were cr:,risidered .at five meetings of the Boarda nd d c::1~_~:; with as f ollows: - Applications recommended and granted by the Supreme Court Re jected· Handed over by the Board for probationary , F,€riod of six months Pending consider ation at 31.-12~60 33 l 1 12 - 47 Investigat ions and v i sits in r espect of ado~tion applications wer e c arried out by officers of the Social As si.
st R'rJ ce D9partment and Dis trict Probation Officers whose ass i stance in this regard is grate ful ly acknowledged by the Boardo I VI - THE PALMS - 8 - VI THE PAIMS .

"The Palms" may be described as a Welfare Institution catering for the chronic ally ill a nd infirm, destitute and homeless individuals being for the most part Rged peopl e who cannot support themselves in the community.
Accommodation and s trength Three hundred and fifty- two beds are available for the chronic sick in six hospital wards and 234 ambulant persons may be ac·commodated in four other war ds making a total of 586 to whom ind oor relief may be extended.

At the beginning of the year 1960 there were 561 r esidents.

· Three hundred and twenty- seven were admitted in 1961 making a total of 888 .
One hundred and twe nty-four (i24) r esi dents were discharged and 203 di ed l eaving 561 res idents in the In stitution at 31st December, 1960.

The daily average_ number of residents was 575 compared with 564 in 1959.

Ofthis number 340 or 61% were in the Hospital wards·.

The cost of maintaining each r esident r ose from $1.46 a day ·in 1959 t o $1.52 a day during 1960.
Staffing The oursing staff at the beginning of the year comprised 8 Ward Sister s , 24 staff nurs es (trained ), 42 untra ined nurses and 15 Ward -Orderlies under the di rect control and supervision of a Matron who is assi sted by a Junior Departmental Sister.

Other staff include the Warden who is r esponsibl e to the Superintendent for the maintenance of good order and disci pline in the Institution, the I ssuer, Clerk and domestic s t aff numbering 51.
During the year i t was decided to ama lgamate the posts of untra ined nurs e and ward-orderly into one grade of Nurse- aide with the same duties and conditions of service.

This decision has given the administration more s cope for t he operation of the three-shift system of duty.

Hi therto, ward-orderlies were not ·requued to work at nights.

Welfare of Residents The administration continued during the year to provide an environment for the residents which is conducive to wholesome and happy living.
To this end, the wards are made as cheerful as poss ible withrecorations made by the nurs ing staff and the residents themselves.

A wide vari et y of entertainment is provided.

Concerts and film-shows, listening to the wirel ess , regul ar bus outings are all l ooked forward t o with enthusiasm.

Garnes tournaments with outs i de groups i s t he f avourit e pastime of the male residents .

Many r esidents t ake part in activities of a vacational nature .
Nearly all the r es ident s who are blind attend the "School .

for the Blind" and are engaged in handicraft including the making of mats , blinds and other useful articles .

Tribute must be paid to the rnaey r eligi ous and welfare organisations who br ing cheer and.
happiness to the residents, the Police Band which provided r egular musical concerts , the manage ment of the East Bank Bus company who have t aken residents for outings t o Atkinson Fiel d and to the scores of r egular visitors who help t o make their lives more meaningful.

Staff Wel fare The St aff Council met monthly duri ng the year and con tinued t o provide a useful link between the admir istration and s t aff, whose r epresentatives on the council ar e elected by their respective sections.
The Superintendent, Warden and Matron re present the administr ation.

Tbrough free discussions of staff- /staff-problems.

••• ( ,J:., -· ,I, - 9 - staff-problems and matters affecting the smooth functioning of the work of the Institution, a high standard of pe rsonal r elationships was maintained throughout the year.
A good understanding also existed betwEen the SupErinterrlant and representatives of the Medical Em.ployeesr Uni on with ~horn the working conditions of subordinate staff were discuss ed from time to time.

Co-op.rative Society The Co-operat ive Thrift Society organised for the benefit of the staff of the Department continued to thr i ve.

The membership increased by one - from 95 at the end of 1959 to 96 at the end of 1960.

During 1960, eighty-one (81) l oans totalling $10,703 060 were granted to members.
Loan repayments were in accordance with loan bonds.

The cash in the Bank at the end of the year was $2,ll5.63 and an amount of $6,815.1-i2 was invested with the New Building Socie ty Ltd.

The loans were granted for the purpose of purchasing houses~ land and furnit~re .

Resident Labour The compound and wards were kept c1ean 1-:::t:1 the assistance of some of the r es i dents .

Resident labour is howc,ver 7 not constant because of age and health factors.
Mental Pati ents The Department continued to be responsible for the care of mental patients transferred to the Ment al Hospital, Berbice from the Public H0 spital, Georgetown.

44 trips were made during the year as compared with 60 in 1959 .

Official Visits 10th March, 1960 - Rev.

C.M.

Ward, Chief Evangelist Assemblies of God, United St ates of Airerica.

29th November, 1960 - Lady E. Gr3y accompanied by Major the Honourable c.v.c.
Herbert, A.D. C. 24th December, 196o - Hiss Excellency Sir Ralph Grey, K.C .M.G.

accompanied by IJa jor the Honour2b1e C.V.C.

Her-bert, A .D .C., the Chairman and Members of the Board of Poor Law C~mmissioners.

VII GENERAL The report on thE work of the Social As c~s t Qnce Department for the year 1960 would be incomple te without refer ence to the valuable work being done by volumtary organisations in the country for the relief of distress.
Hundreds off amilies would be much the poor er without their .frie ndly and practical help given all year round.

The Depa rtment has continued its close and happy r el ationship with these organisations.

The subventions granted by Gowernment to four of them to assist in running Institutions for the poor and orphanages are administered by the Depa rtment.
On behalf of the Poor Lav-1 Co,nrnissioners, I wish t o record their appreciation of the Services r e ndered during 1960 by a loyal and devoted staff who worked hard to keep pace with t he s t eady inc r ease of appeals for assistance fr om thos e in need.

---oooOooo--- ).
i TABLE I STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE YEAR 1960 Service Expe 1d it ure SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT Salaries:- Secretary, Poor Law Commissioners and Sui::erintendent, 11The Palms 11 (half salary) Assistant Secretary, Poor Law Gommissione rs Clerical Establishment Public Assistance Officers Child Welfare Officer Messenger Travelling Expenses Misoellaneous 11 THE FA LMS 11 $ 2,670 3,540 13, 210 71,450 2, 360 1,240 2?, ::;·;o 750 - - - - " - - $94,470 23,620 Salaries (including Nurses & Servants) Mai ntenance 16.5,480 152J930 318,410 CUTDOOR RELIEF .
Georgetown Demerara (other than George town) Essequibo Berbice 133,060 1.58,120 49,090 99,.530 43 9,800 Conveyance of Mental Patients and Lepers _ _,:_72_.
;.0 l.J+0,520 GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS Ursaline Convent for St. Ann's Orphanage Plaisance Orphanage for Boys Dharam Shala African Develoµnent Association OID AGE PENSIONS Georgetown Demerara (other than Georgetown) Essequibo Derbice 2,800 2,000 10,000 80 361,7.50 309,770 90,570 183.870 14,880 -94.5~960 .~~837,860 J/ TABLE II STATillENT OF EXPENDI'IURE ON "THE PALMS" FOR THE YEAR :1.9tio Salaries : Su.i:erintendent (half-salary) $ 2,670 Warden IasuEil;' Clerk,.

.

11The .
.

11The .

Palms" Ward Sisters 3,250 '1 2,490 1,620 I lL., 8Lo Nurses and SErvants lh0(.~10 $165,480 Other Charges Dietary Tobacco and Extras Clothing for Nurses and Servants Fuel, Light and Sanitation Furniture and Equipment Funerals Meals for Nurses Upkeep of Grounds Miscellaneous Extraordinary Purchase of Equipment Add - Value of Free Goods and Sanioe8, Rent of Telephone Less - Receipt s for maintenance of resi dents and s ale of empty con tainers.
!I 11 110,200 I i L,L6o 1 t S,930 8,350 700 1,890 1,030 720 lSl,290 1,640 1 $318,Ll0 I I .,,..,$ 3~1..--8 ,""'"'98~0 570 260 $318,720 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF CASES, ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND ON 31ST _DECEMBER, 1958 /------ -------------------------1958---------------------------1959 TABLE DISTRICTS No.

of Cases No.

of Adults No.

of •l'Jildren Total No.

of individuals No.

of Cases No.


of Adults GEffiGETCMN 1,490 1,043 1, 272 2,315 1,604 1,112 DEM ER.ARA t West Coast West Bank Demerara River East Bank Plaisance Buxton Belf: •l.,:1 Mahaicony 435 260 143 305 242 292 312 J- .

68 2~i35 1,309 2,270 3,579 2, 331 1,457 .
~ESSEQUIBO: North West Dis- trict (incl uding Acquero Pomer oon North Es::;equibo South Es:, equibo Wakenaam Le guan Bartica BERBICE : West Coast Berbice River New Ams terdam Lower CorEntyne Upper Corentyne TOTAL IN THE 3 COUNTIES GOERGETOWN GRAND TOTAL ..,, 44 46 155 194 81 94 JO 644 202 80 194 476 191 l,J)43 3, 922 1,490 5,412 16 34 122 150 66 70 19 477 115 56 133 273 115 692 2,478 1,043 3, 521 82 55 J-43 157 55 95 28 615 209 63 162 543 220 1,197 4,082 1,272 5,35h 98 89 265 307 121 165 47 1,092 324 119 295 816 335 1,889 6.560 2,315 8,875 66 ,o 161 224 73 92 43 709 210 96 232 770 224 l,~32 31 37 125 184 55 66 26 524 ·•.Ji ... l l7 •.
· ~68 .. 16·0 5i_5 ' ..

'.!

:JO ,,.

\, ,·990 --·t 4,575 2,971 1,604 1,112 6,176 4,083 III TOTAL NUMBER CF IlIDIVIDUAIS RECEIVING PUDLIC ASSISTANCE 1959, AND 1960.

- - --------------------1960------------------ ---------/ No .

of chi ld r en No .

of indivi- duals No of Cases No .

of Adults No .

of children No.


of indivi- duals 1,392 2, 504 1,512 1,o66 1,257 2,323 423 303 102 592 JOO 259 287 21/.i 772 491 179 812 Lw3 479 489 282 541 309 121 518 315 321 300 153 368 214 93 282 173 219 198 66 466 3L9 .

199 773, ' 268 i,S4o .

4, 716 1,392 6,108 140 112 271 356 109 157 65 1,210 338 lw7 359 1,288 398 2, 530 7,687 2, 504 10,191 .
7Li 49 161 210 BL 92 so 720 211 112 239 657 259 ---r;ms 4,776 1, 512 6,288 30 35 125 179 56 63 31 519 107 76 102 481 150 9'-)6 3,128 1, 066 4,194 120 68 120 128 83 124 44 687 245 113 179 527 329 1, 393 1,257 6,ll5 150 103 245 307 119 187 75 1,206 352 189 361 1,008 479 2,389 8, 086 2,323 10, 409 JI ; i~ TABLE IV COMPARATIVE STATEMENI' OF NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE PENSIONERS ON 31ST DECEMBER, 1958, 1959, 1960 ]:USTRICT - ·- .
GEORGETOWN DEMERJIRA: West Coast West Bank Demerara River East Bank Buxton Plaisance Belfield Mahaicony i~ ,: ['.

• : • ~ . "

., .
ESSEQUIBO North West ( nclud ing Acquero) Pomeroon North Essequibo South Essequibo Wakenaam Leguan Mazaruni/Potaro/Bartica BERBICE .. West Coo.st Berbice River New Amsterdam arrl ) ) Lav er Core ntyne Upper Corentyne Number of pensioners on Reeister 1958 1959 1960 4,368 4,454 4,545 829 652 230 551 678 .592 6oo 221 1,499 449 .... 2,769 TOTAL IN ALL 3 COUNTIES 8,446 B, 703 8,919 GEORGETOWN GRAND TOTAL "\,l,,.368 12,814 4.454 13,157 4.545 13,464 / + TABLE V RE'IURNS SHOrJING THE DISTRICTS FROM WHICH RESIDENTS AT 11 THE PALMS 11 WERE .ADMITTED DURING 1960 The City of Georgetown is shown separately.
Males Females Total Dernerara .. .

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City of Georgetown .

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.. .. • • Essequibo Berbice •• • • 83 69 20 22 72 42 16 3 % 47 34 11 8 100 155 111 36 25 373 Total 216_J_ 157 TABLE VI RETURN SHOWING THE ADMISSIONS I NTO 11 THE PAIMS 11 DURThJG THE YEAR THE NUMBER DISCHARGw FOR VARIOUS REASvNS, DIED AND REMAINING IN THE INSTITUTIONS ON THE :nsT DECEMBER, 1960. iv1a.1es .ttemaTes iot.a.l In the Institution on 1.1.60 Admitted during 1960 Dis charged: Own Request Rela tives REquest Public Hoo pital, Georgetown Bes t Hospital Mag ist r ate's Or der Superintendent's Order Absconded .
.

~ ' .

i'; -~ k'' ~ ~::: "' I Di ed Remaining Percentage:- Di scharges Deaths Remaining 14% 23% 63% - 100% I - Aver age: - Daily Infirmary Wards ~ ... .~ 285 194 479 44 6 27 1 1 1 10 90 105 195 284 479 276 133 409 8 14 9 - - - 3 34 98 132 277 409 561 327 888 52 20 36 1 1 1 13 124 203 327 561 888 290 159 285 190 575 349 TABLE VII RETURN .SHOWING THE ADNISSICNS, DEATHS, DISCHARGES AND AVERAGE NUMBER AT 11 THE PAINS" IN 1957, 1958 and 1959 .
Dai ly average number of residents at ttThe Palms 11 Average number i n infirmary wards Number of Deaths Number of discharges 1956 1959 1960 558 564 575 351 202 135 350 221 150 349 203 124 TABLE VIII AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AT 11 THE PAI.NS 11 FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS A}U) THE AVERAGE COST J-'"ER CAPUT Year 1951 1952 1953 1954 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 ": Average Number Cost per Caput Per Diem 601 599 595 589 580 579 575 558 564 81¢ 92¢ 90¢ $1 .00 $1.

25 $1.24 ~'!>1.3 9 $1.47 $1.4.7