In addition to the opening of a new $10.5M resource centre by the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme, the disability movement in Guyana received another boost yesterday as Minister of Public Services, Dr. Jennifer Westford, promised substantial support to the organisation.

Community members at the new Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) resource centre.

The East Coast Demerara branch of the CBR programme opened a new resource centre in Golden Grove, President’s College Road.

The construction was done under the Guyana Micro Projects programme, with financing form the European Union in the sum of $7M and $3.5M from the Government of Guyana.

This is one of 122 projects being undertaken in the Guyana Micro Project programme.

In addition to financing for the construction, the land was provided by the Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica) National Democratic Council (NDC).

During the opening ceremony, the minister affirmed that persons with disabilities are a special group of people that can contribute to the development of Guyana.

Minister Jennifer Westford, left, and members of CBR cut the ceremonial ribbon to the new resource centre.

To this end, she pointed out that there must be the creation of an enabling environment for this potential to be realised.

According to her, this enabling environment can be created by better educational opportunities and support of existing activities that persons with disabilities engage in.

With these statements as a backdrop, Westford promised two fully paid annual scholarships to CBR which will be used for differently-abled persons or volunteers who assist the disability movement and need to be further qualified.

She also promised eight bails of cloth to support the craft done by the differently abled persons and to undertake the responsibility for securing the building by means of grill work on the windows and doors.

Westford pledged assistance to have the Regional Chairman of Region Four, Mr. Clement Corlette, to assist with the fencing of the compound.

“Everyone has a role to play in supporting persons with disabilities,” the minister posited.

She highlighted that this must start at the top and so she encouraged persons to bring to her attention any variations of attitudes primarily in the public service ministry.

Westford lauded the CBR’s good work in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.

National Adviser to CBR, Mrs. Geraldine Maison-Halls, expressed her appreciation for the support from different agencies, and added that anyone with a willingness and commitment to work with persons who have disabilities would be welcome to the CBR family.

The National Adviser pointed out also that the CBR is an agent for change of attitudes, behaviours and practices, with the hope of supporting persons with disabilities.

“For persons with disabilities, the centre is a way to broaden their horizons and widen their scope of activities which would see the lives of the differently-abled improved,” she asserted.