–but opportunity’s the problem, says society’s Ganesh Singh

EACH year, the month of May is observed as Blindness Awareness Month across the Caribbean, and for 2018 the Guyana Society for the Blind is using the opportunity to let the public know that persons who are blind, or visually impaired, can still contribute meaningfully to society.

This year’s theme is, “The empowerment of persons who are blind and visually impaired through technologically-driven initiatives”, and the observance started with a church service on May 6.

In an interview at the High Street headquarters, executive member Ganesh Singh disclosed that a number of school visits are planned throughout the month, to sensitise school children on the abilities of persons who are blind and visually impaired.

The ‘Society’ also wants to spread the word about the care of the eyes, the use of the ‘white cane’, the technology used by persons who are blind and visually impaired, and the issues affecting those persons.

A domino competition is planned among the members of the society, and a fun-day at one of the resorts.

“It’s really to highlight blind persons, and let the public know that blind persons can do so much; that they can work and have an education because we have about 11 persons who are blind or visually impaired going to the university,” Singh said.

He added: “They write CXC, they are teachers, they are journalists, rehabilitation assistants. So we just want people to know that blind persons can live normal lives. Because of the way society marginalises us,we are unable to do so. Opportunities are very much limited.”

The society has 150 members across Guyana, but currently it has about 70 active members who visit the facility during the month.

Singh cited a lack of resources as one of the major challenges facing the society. “The Society receives a very small subvention from government which is not even enough to cover basic utilities and cleaning, so we really cannot implement programmes on a sustainable basis because it is dependent on donor funding, and donor funding is not always reliable,” he said.

According to Singh, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) programme, supported by the Ministry of Education, is the only sustained programme.

BIGGER SUBVENTION

“So we need a lot more resources and a bigger subvention,” he said. “We do receive good support from corporate Guyana, because without their support, we would not even be functioning.

“Members of the society still feel that once you’re blind, you can’t really contribute in a meaningful way, and because of this negative view, people still would not give us an equal playing field.

“They feel we should not be in certain areas; should not be doing certain things and people would still discriminate when you go certain places because you are blind.”

The society’s current location at High Street is another challenge. “Nothing can be done about the location because this is our property,” Singh said. “To move would be a herculean task, because there are many organisations which are fighting to have a location and we’re fortunate to have one; but it’s just the location.”

The society at the moment has no security, and is hoping that someone from the private sector would think about providing one to them free of cost.
“We would really like to have the relevant authorities improve the security; we don’t have security at the moment, so perhaps someone can give us a security guard.

“So, any private firm out there that wants to give us a free security guard, we would appreciate it, at least in the nights. We don’t have neighbours here so we are vulnerable.”
Just recently, armed bandits stormed the society, traumatising and robbing several members. Nothing has since come of the matter, and no arrests have been made.
The society can be reached on telephone numbers: 226-4496 and 231-7976.