Differently-abled persons to be trained in Govt’s block-making initiative

Through a collaborative effort between the Guyana Society for the Blind; the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA); the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), differently-abled persons are to benefit from training sessions for block-makers.

Under the Community-based Employment Stimulation Programme (CESP), the initiative was launched on Wednesday at the Guyana Society for the Blind Headquarters at High Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.
Speaking at the launch, Housing Minister Collin Croal said the training would provide a number of economic opportunities, and mitigate unemployment levels even as the COVID-19 pandemic has created more challenges for persons living with disabilities.
“It has exacerbated the inequalities within communities, and its impact is devastating to persons with disabilities, those who are unemployed, women and children, the elderly, Indigenous and other minorities,” Croal said.
He also highlighted a number of other Government initiatives, including scholarships under the Guyana Learning Academy.
CESP, the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, was officially launched in May 2021 to provide economic opportunities for persons living in vulnerable communities.
Croal explained that the startup material and tools would be provided by the Government.
“You will be provided start up material like sand, cement, tools, protective gears, as well as support for your marketing; and so, with GNBS (Guyana National Bureau of Standards) on board, your certification will ensure that the blocks are made to the standards of the contractors.”
The Minister said the project would be significant in the Government’s housing drive.
“Over the next two days, we have 12 persons here, different-abled, who will be trained in block-making as well as the benefit of money management, life skills and job readiness training. All are critical to reduce unemployment; so, once the standards that are set by GNBS are met, you will be supplying blocks…for our project at Little and Great Diamond, where we’re constructing 900 houses.”
Meanwhile, Minister Oneidge Walrond said she is pleased to be collaborating on any project that provides employment for small and micro-businesses/ organisations, and expressed her optimism at GCOPD’s competence and ability to meet quality standards.
She also stated that the annual certification fees for blocks will be waived.
Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, noted that persons living with disabilities have a unique set of talent and skills to contribute towards the development of Guyana and towards their own personal upliftment.
“…and we want to be able to help them and to provide as many opportunities as possible,” Rodrigues said.
She added that several other interventions have seen a number of differently-abled persons receiving house lots over the past year, and the provision of a plot of land for the construction of a new office for GCOPD.
The Ministers also commissioned the $875,000 block-making shed donated by CH&PA, along with a quantity of equipment handed over, which included wheelbarrows and spades.
For the next two days, twelve differently-abled persons will be trained for three hours to build blocks. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards will be testing the blocks to ensure that they meet the necessary specifications and quality.
To date, ten contractors have agreed to purchase blocks from the project to aid in the construction of 290 homes being built by CH&PA in Prospect, East Bank Demerara, and at Cummings Lodge in Georgetown.
Meanwhile, Ganesh Singh, Programme Coordinator of the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities, expressed his gratitude to the Government for taking this step to offer this opportunity to persons with disabilities.
“I must say that we are very pleased that this is one component of the Government’s quest to ensure persons with disabilities can be financially independent. Only two weeks ago, we would’ve had a meeting with His Excellency, and he would’ve reiterated his Government’s pledge to ensure that people with disabilities can be financially independent to small business development and employment,” he added.
The ceremony was also attended by Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves.