Movement
THE Guyana Council of Organisations of Persons With Disabilities, in keeping with the motto ‘Dignity and Justice for all of Us’, met with stakeholders on Tuesday, in the National Library Conference Room, Church Street, Georgetown, at a consultation workshop.

The meeting was aimed at propelling the disability movement one step forward and it was made possible with support from Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) countrywide.

A cross section of participants at Tuesday’s workshop.

That committee built on the momentum gained from the observance after realising the potential that collaborative efforts can have on the various DPOs and the Council now provides support for them and persons, in the areas of information and advice, mobilisation and working together and advocacy for disability rights.

Council Chairman, Mr. Leon Walcott said contributions to the draft are invited from all DPOs, as the importance of networking for a united voice is recognised.

He explained that the overall objective of the document is based on the concepts of unification, advocacy and support.

“If activities in these three areas are implemented, persons with disabilities would have a much greater opportunity to achieve their full potential,” Walcott said.

He said it was agreed the mission statement would be ‘To create a forum for organisations to support, through advocacy and other means, persons with disabilities, so as to assist them to build their capacity to achieve their full potential.

National Adviser to the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme, Mrs. Geraldine Maison-Halls, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, concurred with Walcott.

She said, with the constitution, a legal structure and framework to move the DPOs cause forward was formed.”

Maison-Halls agreed that such consultations are important as a concept of governance is put in place, moreso one that recognises democracy.

However, she said that, even with the constitution, there are going to be challenges but, by utilising the skills set available, they would be overcome.

Maison-Halls lauded the work of the Council and said such a body is critical in providing a platform for representing the views, opinions, aspirations and dreams of the DPOs.

She said yesterday’s exchanges allowed DPOs to get a clearer picture of the role their own organisations played in pushing the Disability Movement ahead.

“The strength of the Disability Movement is organisations working together for the empowerment of disabled people across Guyana,” Maison-Halls asserted.

The commitment of the DPOs was recognised by VSO volunteer, Ms. Katherine Belen, who commended the participants’ efforts to the advocacy process in the Disability Movement.

“Advocacy is our mini-bus to affecting change and your commitment fuels that change,” she acknowledged.