Govt to roll out parent-co-managed special needs facilities nationwide – VP

The Government will be developing facilities for special needs children across the country that will be co-managed by their parents.
This was explained by Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during his press conference on Thursday.
He said the idea is to have every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) bring together all parents of children with disabilities to set up a board which the Government will work with to identify a building and other resources needed to develop the facility.
Each facility would be co-managed by the parents, with financial support from the Government through monthly subventions.
“So you involve the parents, the children get some help, it’s close by… frees up some of the parents to work, and then the children get some access to learning… and the state don’t become too burden by having to look for staff… so that’s the model we’ve been coming up with,” Jagdeo explained.

Elderly and child care
The Government is prepared to offer special tax incentives and other forms of support to persons interested in establishing childcare and elderly care centres across the country.
“If you live in a village and you want to convert your bottom house into a day care facility, of course it would have to be regulated, you’re going to have to have standards and everything else, we can help you even co-invest in fixing the facility,” VP Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has explained.
He noted too that the Government will also “remove any tax on income you earn on that facility.”
In exchange, they would have to charge a reasonable rate.
The main objective of this programme, which will be included in Budget 2026, is to ensure working mothers have safe and affordable care facilities for their children.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo said the same offer will be made to persons interested in setting up facilities to care for the elderly.
He highlighted that these initiatives will also help to create hundreds of community-based entrepreneurs.