–President Ali affirms, as sod turned for $100M facility at Crane

–seven new specialised school buses to be procured

THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) has partnered with Guyana to establish a $100 million state-of-the-art facility at Crane, West Coast Demerara.
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his address at the sod-turning and tree-planting ceremony held at the construction site on Sunday, emphasised the significance of this landmark project and the urgent need to prioritise the well-being of persons living with disabilities.

“What we’re seeing is a demonstration of the character of the UAE, and that is a character of concern, of care. One in which they see the value of every human being as a member of the human family,” President Ali said.

Acknowledging the geographical and cultural differences that separate the two nations, President Ali added that the new facility is testimony to the unity achieved through acts of goodwill and service to humanity.

While addressing the pressing needs of vulnerable communities, particularly those persons living with disabilities, President Ali pledged to ensure equity in access for all.
He praised the efforts Minister of Human Services, Dr. Vindhya Persaud along with the Office of the First Lady, Arya Ali for their extensive work in assisting the elderly and people with disabilities.

President Ali also stressed the importance of expanding initiatives to provide a comfortable and safe environment where persons with special needs could experience the joys of life.
With an investment of US$500,000 or GY$100 million, the UAE’s support for the new facility reinforces their commitment to humanity and the well-being of communities worldwide.
In line with the focus on improving educational opportunities for children with disabilities, President Ali highlighted the need for additional special needs teachers.

To address this requirement, the Government of Guyana is investing in creating training opportunities to attract more specialised educators who can provide vital support to these children and their families.

INVESTMENTS BEING MADE
“One of the things that we’re in need of is more special needs teachers. We’re investing and creating training opportunities so that we can get more special needs teachers to support our children and support these families,” the Head of State said.

Recognising their invaluable role in providing tailored education and support to children with disabilities, the government is investing in training opportunities to attract and retain skilled professionals in the field.

By expanding the pool of specialised educators, President Ali the government will enhance the educational experience and opportunities available to children living with disabilities.
Additionally, to facilitate transportation for students attending special needs schools, the government is in the process of procuring seven new specialised school buses.

These buses will ensure that children have adequate means of reaching their schools comfortably and safely. The connection between these buses and the new facility further reinforces the commitment to holistic support for individuals with disabilities, Dr. Ali said.

Those initiatives will add to the $130 million state-of-the-art call and business centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) being constructed at Palmyra, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The initiative for the business centre came from the First Lady, and upon completion, it will facilitate the manufacturing of products, and offer retail space, technical training, and therapy for persons living with disabilities.

The centre will have five workstations for production, a boardroom, a therapy room, a cafeteria, and washroom facilities. The commercial space’s goal is to provide PWDs with a platform to market the goods they produce.

President Ali said that the Government has implemented several measures to assist persons with disabilities, including a $25,000 cash grant for training, equipment, hearing aid and other medical supplies, and entrepreneurial development.

The government has also provided public assistance to approximately 8,000 Guyanese living with disabilities, and every child living with a permanent disability will receive a one-time cash grant of $100,000.

The government is projecting that an additional 7,700 persons with disabilities will benefit from public assistance, which will provide them with a combined disposable income of approximately $646 million to improve their livelihoods.