MEMBERS of the Disabled Persons’ Committee in Bartica have expressed much optimism that they are likely to benefit from a new building where they can conduct training and capacity-building activities.

Chairman of the Committee, Godfrey Mc Donald in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle said the Bartica Mayor and Town Council, through its Mayor, Gifford Marshall, has promised to provide a new building for the committee.

Mc Donald said the grouping of about 40 differently-abled members have been “tossed around” for years, as they searched tirelessly for accommodation.

“Persons are frustrated… they keep dropping out of the group due to their frustration. Many of them said we are only holding meetings and talking, but can’t do anything else.”
The visually-impaired man told the Guyana Chronicle that over the past few years, he has solicited assistance from the regional administration but to no avail.
He explained that the options provided to his group were not helpful for persons who have disabilities.

“Work has been progressing slowly. We don’t have our own building and right now we are just using a classroom in a private school to meet,” he explained.

The 63-year-old man who served as chairman of the committee for about five years, explained that on several occasions the group had lobbied for a permanent place to conduct their business, but to no avail.

“The regional administration, they are the ones who are supposed to assist us. They keep turning us down. At first, they told us we could use the bottom flat of the Bartica Community Centre which was about to be pulled down. I told them I won’t accept that. It would have cost us over $500,000 to rehabilitate the room they were giving us — I refused.

“Then they told us we could use the top flat of the Career Centre, but then they told us if we took chairs and tables we would have to remove them after every meeting,” Mc Donald stated.

FINALLY SOME LIGHT
Letters were also sent to the regional executive officer (REO) but now, with the promise by the Bartica Town Council, Mc Donald believes there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“The Mayor and Town Council has promised to assist us with the construction of a building,” he said proudly, while quickly noting that sometimes it is best to wait until in receipt of the gifts promised.
“I am extremely elated… having a new building would be a dream come through,” he stated.

Though a cost is yet to be attached to the edifice that is to be constructed, Mc Donald told the Guyana Chronicle that as soon as the Town Council is ready to work on the project, there will be a meeting to flesh out details of the project.

“I think they will keep their word,” he said with much optimism. Mayor Gifford Marshall told the Guyana Chronicle that efforts are being made through the town council to provide the disability group with a building. He noted that while the council does not have the requisite funds to construct the facility, assistance will be solicited from all stakeholders.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that differently-abled persons have needs and those needs should be met, as is the case of any other citizen.

“For years, they have been suffering, moving from place to place and we have to change that. We need a centre for them; we started efforts last year, but we have not gone as far as we would love to, but it is something we will continue to work [on] and [will] make representation for them. Hopefully before Local Government Elections, we can start that project,” Marshall told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, Mc Donald is eyeing a two-storey building where the lower flat will contain a conference room, training area and kitchen, while the upper flat will have a recreational hall and rooms which can accommodate persons who travel to Bartica.
He told this publication that it is his hope that training programmes can begin in the near future, as there are many challenges facing persons living with disabilities in Bartica.

IN DENIAL
According to Mc Donald, whose sight started deteriorating in the 1990s, many persons in Bartica are living in denial. He said parents deny that their children need help and adults refute that they have disabilities.

“There are members in the organisation, since because disabled they kinda gone back in a shell — certain things they are afraid to do… we want to get them comfortable to help themselves,” he said, noting that many of the differently- abled persons in Bartica are heavily dependent on their relatives because of the fears they have.

Another point noted by Mc Donald is that there is currently no special needs teacher in the mining town. He said there was one teacher, but that teacher has since resigned.

“There are children who are also suffering — there is no special needs teacher. There are many special needs children, but at this day and age persons are still in denial, especially the parents. The child is disabled and when you tell them, they say the child has no problem, whether autistic etc,” he told the Guyana Chronicle, while noting that for years he and others have been trying to get parents to seek help for their differently-abled children.
“We went on television, we visited schools, homes, but they still won’t accept that these children are disabled,” he stated.

While he understands the challenges that persons living with disabilities face, Mc Donald said communicating with the right persons can help them overcome their fears. He said when he started losing his sight, he too was living in denial, but because of the persistence of a few persons, he was able to face his fears.

The father of six said he is now in a position to do all of his household chores without the assistance of anyone. “After a time you get accustomed to it. It is not easy but now, I can cook, clean and do all my chores unassisted.”

Mc Donald said when he became visually-impaired, he did not receive counselling and being rendered physically unfit, he felt as though his world was crumbling.
Notwithstanding those challenges, he took the advice from persons within the disability commission and he stepped out and embraced his new life.

It is his desire to see those who are differently-abled and living in Bartica do the same. “Do not be ashamed… relatives do not be ashamed of your loved ones… don’t hide them away,” he urged, adding that “The future is still bright for us, we may not be able to see or hear, but we can do many other things.”