President pledges $20M to disabled for job creation ventures – fund to be recurring
Georgetown, GINA, November 10, 2011
Source - GINA
President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing persons with disabilities during a meeting at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary
President Bharrat Jagdeo has delivered on his promise to make financial resources available to facilitate the creation of specific initiatives that would ensure persons with disabilities are a productive part of the country’s work force.
A pledge of $20M was made today at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary where the Head of state met with representatives of the different organizations representing the differently-abled in Guyana.
They included commissioners from the National Commission on Disability (NCD), members of organizations representing the blind, the hearing impaired and physically disabled and the newly established group for persons with autism.
The promise to fund income earning projects for the differently-abled was made in March this year when President Jagdeo met stakeholders at Regency Suites for the launch of a sensitisation campaign for the Persons with Disabilities Act 2010.
Among the options explored wa s a call centre, staffed solely by persons with disabilities however, President Jagdeo told the stakeholders today that disabled persons will have complete autonomy in deciding on the allocation of the $20M fund for livelihood ventures.
“You will sit together and start deciding on what are the initiatives you want funded that could make a difference in your lives, that could make you more productive (either) training initiatives or initiatives geared towards employment creation,” President Jagdeo said.
He assured that this special fund will be recurrent in the national budget annually aside from initiatives that the government will fund through the various ministries and agencies for the differently-abled.
The fund, according to President Jagdeo, will be released as early as next week and he contemplated depositing it in the Council of Persons with Disability, a coalition of organizations with members who are disabled.
Chairman of the Guyana Council of Organisations for persons with Disabilities, Leon Walcott delivering remarks at a meeting between President Bharrat Jagdeo and persons with disabilities
The Head of State commended organizations working with the differently abled for the tireless work they have been doing over the years and Chairman of the Guyana Council of Organisations for persons with Disabilities, Leon Walcott Leon Walcott lauded President Jagdeo for the support he has given.
Persons with disabilities were first on the list when the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme entered the distribution phase on November 8.
President Jagdeo in November 2, 2010, assented to the Act which provides certain rights to persons with disabilities including for the promotion protection and equal enjoyment of their rights, eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability, welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disability.
Today’s forum gave differently-abled persons the opportunity to interact with the President on matters of concern and importance to them. Chief among concerns for organizations working with disabled persons was accommodation facilities.
Representatives of the Green Heart Society responsible for children with autism asked for a special location for children with such illnesses while Wayne Jones called for a particular niche where disabled persons who have embroidery skills can be trained in marketing.
Julie Lewis asked for consideration to be given to the provision of rehabilitative services for persons who for various reasons become disabled.
President Jagdeo then requested that a survey be conducted to determine the locations in Guyana where there is dire need for accommodation facilities for organizations working with persons with disabilities.
A representative from the Guyana Society for the Blind requested for an Information Communication Technology (ICT) lab to be established at its headquarters for computer training to become a permanent feature. The society is at present one of the training hubs for the OLPF.
Georgetown, GINA, November 10, 2011
Source - GINA
President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing persons with disabilities during a meeting at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve LearyPresident Bharrat Jagdeo has delivered on his promise to make financial resources available to facilitate the creation of specific initiatives that would ensure persons with disabilities are a productive part of the country’s work force.
A pledge of $20M was made today at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary where the Head of state met with representatives of the different organizations representing the differently-abled in Guyana.
They included commissioners from the National Commission on Disability (NCD), members of organizations representing the blind, the hearing impaired and physically disabled and the newly established group for persons with autism.
The promise to fund income earning projects for the differently-abled was made in March this year when President Jagdeo met stakeholders at Regency Suites for the launch of a sensitisation campaign for the Persons with Disabilities Act 2010.
Among the options explored wa s a call centre, staffed solely by persons with disabilities however, President Jagdeo told the stakeholders today that disabled persons will have complete autonomy in deciding on the allocation of the $20M fund for livelihood ventures.
“You will sit together and start deciding on what are the initiatives you want funded that could make a difference in your lives, that could make you more productive (either) training initiatives or initiatives geared towards employment creation,” President Jagdeo said.
He assured that this special fund will be recurrent in the national budget annually aside from initiatives that the government will fund through the various ministries and agencies for the differently-abled.
The fund, according to President Jagdeo, will be released as early as next week and he contemplated depositing it in the Council of Persons with Disability, a coalition of organizations with members who are disabled.
Chairman of the Guyana Council of Organisations for persons with Disabilities, Leon Walcott delivering remarks at a meeting between President Bharrat Jagdeo and persons with disabilitiesThe Head of State commended organizations working with the differently abled for the tireless work they have been doing over the years and Chairman of the Guyana Council of Organisations for persons with Disabilities, Leon Walcott Leon Walcott lauded President Jagdeo for the support he has given.
Persons with disabilities were first on the list when the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme entered the distribution phase on November 8.
President Jagdeo in November 2, 2010, assented to the Act which provides certain rights to persons with disabilities including for the promotion protection and equal enjoyment of their rights, eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability, welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disability.
Today’s forum gave differently-abled persons the opportunity to interact with the President on matters of concern and importance to them. Chief among concerns for organizations working with disabled persons was accommodation facilities.
Representatives of the Green Heart Society responsible for children with autism asked for a special location for children with such illnesses while Wayne Jones called for a particular niche where disabled persons who have embroidery skills can be trained in marketing.
Julie Lewis asked for consideration to be given to the provision of rehabilitative services for persons who for various reasons become disabled.
President Jagdeo then requested that a survey be conducted to determine the locations in Guyana where there is dire need for accommodation facilities for organizations working with persons with disabilities.
A representative from the Guyana Society for the Blind requested for an Information Communication Technology (ICT) lab to be established at its headquarters for computer training to become a permanent feature. The society is at present one of the training hubs for the OLPF.
