–National Commission on Disabilities Chair says, commends work of the PPP/C gov’t 

–recalls party being the only one to acknowledge Guyana Council of Organisations of Persons’ proposal in its 2020 Manifesto

GUYANA has made significant progress in prioritising enhancement of the lives of persons living with disabilities under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration over the past five years, with strides made in employment, education, and housing, and even international recognition.

This was according to Chairperson of the National Commission on Disabilities, Ganesh Singh during his address at the launch of the Centre for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation at the Empower Guyana building in Palmyra, East Berbice-Corentyne.

“We’ve seen more persons with disabilities employed across all sectors,” he said, highlighting that the landscape has changed drastically from what existed in the past.

Among the opportunities being made available to persons with disabilities are access to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), training under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), and vocational training offered through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

“There are more scholarships for persons with disabilities through the Government Online Academy of Learning, there are more schools, special education in schools, and resources for children with disabilities across the country,” he said.

Singh said that children now have the opportunity for an education which was just a dream a few years ago.

Additionally, with the launch of the government’s part-time job project, he said that this has become an avenue for more persons with disabilities to become gainfully employed.

“That is what we as a disability community are proud of; the opportunities that were afforded to us, and the transformation of the disability landscape,” Singh said, while acknowledging: “Yes, there are still gaps, but where we came from, we’ve gone a far way.”

The Chairperson highlighted that in 2020, the PPP/C was the only political party that acknowledged a manifesto put forward by the Guyana Council of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, and put it as part of their own.

“Upon assuming office in August of 2020, we met with all, well, the majority of the ministers. We met with His Excellency, we met with the Vice-President and the Prime Minister, and all reiterated the promise that they made to us; the disability community, that they will do whatever they can to ensure that we can live a better life. Past four or five years, we’re seeing that better life; we’re seeing it,” he said.

He further added that access to housing has also been another area in which progress has been made, as persons with disabilities are now able to go to the bank and access a loan and are prioritised at the housing ministry to get access to land.

“Many persons would have gotten support to build their homes; through the Men on a Mission initiative, or other programmes through the Ministry of Housing or the government,” Singh said.

Further, he related that internationally, Guyana is being recognised for its effort in the support of persons living with disabilities.

Singh said: “When I travelled across the Caribbean in the past, you would hear of all the developments that’s happening within those our sister Caribbean countries when it comes to disability. Now, they look to us; they look to us because of the progressive initiatives that we have for persons with disabilities.”