THE Guyana Association for Visually Impaired (GAVI) celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday, by hosting a thanksgiving service at Ocean View Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. Several businesses that have been giving their support to the organisation over the years were shown appreciation, through the presentation of certificates and plaques to them at the function.
Among those present at the ceremony was Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. David Devine, who said he is impressed with the works that GAVI has undertaken since its inception.
The envoy said it is very important for persons to be made aware of the challenges with which impaired individuals are faced daily and, as such, he is pleased to see that the grouping has managed to work through the different situations and obstacles.  
“I’m really impressed that the organisation has been able to go through the last ten years and grow and expand and make people more aware of the challenges that blind and impaired people have,” Devine said.
He said he admires those persons who are living with this specific disability and are alive, well and happy.
“We go through the day, we don’t have impairments and it’s all very natural but, for people that don’t have their sight just to be able to go through the day, I have admiration for persons who are able to do that,” he stated.

In need
The diplomat remarked that it is now left up to the citizens of Guyana to be able to recognise that persons living with such disability are in need of any support possible.
He said he believes that opportunities should be given to the impaired population at all costs, whether it be in the area of land, finances, skills training or any other such developmental programmes.
Devine continued: “In my home country, same sort of issue, persons are not aware of simple things that can be done by signage for access to building, training programmes to Braille, to currency…many different things that can be done to make a small difference to the population for the visually impaired.”
He assured he is committed to ensuring that support is given on his part in whatever way he can.
“We will certainly work with the organisation to be able to make persons more aware of the issues and challenges surrounding persons who are suffering from blindness,” he pledged.
Project officer of Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) Paula Sampson, in her address, reiterated a need for more facilities for impaired persons in Guyana.
“We need basic things, like talking computers and other such facilities that would greatly assist these people,” she said.
Sampson said, she will be playing a lead role in advocacy for the blind in obtaining anything they might request which could, of course, better them in one way or the other.
She remarked: “Many of us have a laid back attitude in getting what we want to achieve…you have to have the drive or vision to get what you want.”
Sampson encouraged disabled persons to reach for the skies and not restrain themselves.