The majority of the Disability Movement is earnestly hoping that the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, comes through with his commitment to ensure passage of the legislation for the differently-abled this year.

“We need the backing of the legislation,” says Mr. Leon Walcott, President of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities.

Walcott explained that one cannot dictate, through legislation, another’s actions, but the Disability Bill would lay a foundation for the disability movement to continue building on.

“We have come a long way and the disability movement has made significant progress; so we are hoping that the minister makes good on his promise,” Walcott says.

Ramsammy made his commitment to have the Disability Bill tabled in Parliament before year end at the first Regional Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Conference in Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice), Friday.

In addition to this, he pledged some $350,000, in personal funds, to facilitate the construction of a CBR Resource Centre in the region.

The land for the construction was allocated by President Bharrat Jagdeo in Lovely Lass, Region Five, and approximately $3M was allotted for construction.

National Adviser to the CBR, Mrs. Geraldine Maison-Hall, has expressed her enthusiasm at the display of support for the disability movement.

She said that works on the Resource Centre are slated to commence soon to facilitate the hosting of the second Regional CBR Conference.

This year’s Conference was held under the theme “Uniting the Voice of the Disabled for Community Action.”

Maison-Hall said, “The disability movement has grown and developed over the years due to the efforts of the regional bodies that have been able to undertake the conference’s organisation.”

The CBR National Advisor explained that these bodies have brought the disability movement to the communities and have given recognition to persons with disabilities.

Maison-Hall stated that the conference was a venture that will pave the way for disabled persons to be able to:

* Access education and other resources for life improvement;

* Develop their skills to become economically independent;

* See a change in the perception of others who once viewed their disability in a negative light; and

* Earn the respect of members in the community.

She acknowledged that this initiative is one that will be ongoing in regions across Guyana so as to allow for an enabling environment and enforce advocacy for the disability movement.

Increased advocacy will ensure that persons with disabilities are seen not as charity cases, but as individuals with rights and potential that can be realised, given the right support.

However, she pointed out that these efforts will have more impact and effect once the Disability Bill is passed.

President of the Region Five Disabled People’s Organisation, Mr. Mark Archibald, who lives with a disability, reiterated these sentiments.

He added that the disability movement will be on better footing once the bill was passed.

“This is what is moving us forward and this is what we are fighting for,” Archibald said.