$2.6B in new measures is much-needed relief to an impoverished, marginalised community – persons with disabilities

The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) on Tuesday lauded the measures announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali that would assist this vulnerable section of society, but called on the Government to provide more assistance in the near future.

President Ali, on Monday night, announced three new measures which would see some $2.6B being injected into the hands of some vulnerable groups within the Guyanese society. These measures include a $25,000 one-off cash grant for all pensioners, a $25,000 one-off cash grant for persons with disabilities and on public assistance, and one month’s free electricity for households consuming less than 75kwh a month.
In a press statement reacting to the announcement, the GCOPD said the initiative is “significant” and will bring “much needed financial relief” to an “impoverished and marginalised” community.
The GCOPD explained that most persons with disabilities (PWDs) did not benefit from the $25,000 COVID-19 cash relief grant since many of them do not head households.
The organisation has said it is pleased that there finally are measures available that would directly benefit PWDs.
“The GCOPD is pleased that this new cash relief measure is specific and targeted to the community of PWDs,” the organisation has said.
The GCOPD has noted that, as an umbrella body for 24 disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) across Guyana, it is appreciative of the various measures implemented by the Ali Administration to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities since assuming office in August 2020.
“We are optimistic for the future of PWDs in Guyana, and we pledge our partnership with the Government to promote and fulfill the rights of PWDs,” the organisation has expressed.

Other assistance
In an invited comment, GCOPD Programme Coordinator Ganesh Singh told Guyana Times that the community has been calling for a monthly disability grant. He said that while PWDs are pleased with the new measure, they are still hopeful that the monthly grant would be available in the near future.
“We are hopeful that, in the not-too-distant future, once the economy gets better, we can be able to get such a grant. A monthly disability grant is something that is needed, because the majority of persons with disabilities are impoverished,” Singh explained.
In August 2020, the GCOPD had issued a statement calling on the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration to provide greater assistance to PWDs.
In addition to a monthly grant, the organisation had called for the provision of low-income housing and more employment opportunities for persons living with various forms of disability in Guyana.
Additionally, the GCOPD had called for improvements in the delivery of education to children with disabilities, provision of assistive and mobility aids, modification and enforcement of building codes to promote accessibility to public buildings, allocation of small contracts to companies owned and operated by PWDs, and to promote small business development in the disability community.
In his announcement, President Ali has said the cash grant for the elderly will benefit some 65,000 persons, while the grant for persons on public assistance will go towards some 25,000 persons.
However, in December 2020, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony had revealed that there are some 50,000 persons living with a disability in Guyana.
It is currently unclear which PWDs would benefit from the grant, and how the rollout would be executed. (G11)