Special PWD Unit to be established at Human Services Ministry

The Government, under the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, plans to establish in 2024 a special unit to cater for persons living with disabilities.
Given Government’s commitment to increase assistance and accessibility to services for the vulnerable population, this unit would allow for smooth transition of policies, development of targeted programmes, and continue the work currently being managed by the various departments in that Ministry.
In an interview with this publication, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud disclosed that her ministry would commence consultations with persons living with disabilities early in 2024, in order to get their input on how the unit can improve their lives.
She explained that this would ensure their needs are catered for in a holistic manner; specifically, a manner that blends policy with services.
“One of the very early plans is to have another meeting with them (for them) to give input into our own programme. We’re looking at making those persons who’re living with disabilities have an opportunity beyond what they’re having. Yes, we’re offering training, and yes, we’re offering ‘Women in Business’, but what are the other areas you see yourself gravitating to? Is it employment? Can we provide any kind of training for you? Is it home ownership? How can we help you? How can we improve their lives?” Dr Persaud has asked.
Speaking on Government’s plans for persons living with disabilities in 2024, the minister revealed that several women within vulnerable communities would benefit from the Women in Business clinic. The clinic would provide finance and business advice to the women as part of efforts to make them more independent, thereafter becoming financially stable.
Additionally, an average of 15 to 20 persons from the vulnerable population would also benefit in 2024 from the Tourism Ministry’s Revolving Fund project. This group would be the first cohort of beneficiaries for that project.
Further, on the issue of improved services, the Ministry would be offering alternate venues for persons living with disabilities to cash their monthly allowance at various banking institutions, Mobile Money Guyana, Money Gram and Western Union.
“We are going to start talks with those agencies so that we can have that option as well as the banking option; so that, if they wish, we can have the monthly allowance sent through the bank, like what is currently being done through the pension programme,” she explained.

PWD work programme
Some 8,000 applicants benefitted this year from the one-off cash grant initiative, and Government was able to regularize over 5,000 of the children into the Ministry’s database.
The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry disbursed $36 million of revolving fund for persons living with disabilities (PWDs), to foster entrepreneurship and economic independence among persons living with disabilities, specifically dedicated to supporting micro-enterprises initiated by these individuals.
The Government has taken a holistic approach to empower persons living with disabilities through development training to improve their quality of life. These programmes include basic computer training; job access with speech (JAWS) for the visually impaired; garment construction; adult literacy and numeracy. As a result, nearly 500 persons living with disabilities have received specialised training tailored to their unique needs.
Hundreds were able to access sanitary supplies through ‘Pampers Bank’ initiative, which was initiated to support vulnerable families with infants.
Additionally, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has developed a well-established referral pathway for persons to access free hearing aids and essential aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, and white canes. Persons can now request these aids and have them delivered directly to their homes or communities.
Meanwhile, in late 2021, an eye care programme was launched to provide vision care to underserved communities and vulnerable citizens. The initiative has already made a profound impact, with over 3,000 pairs of spectacles distributed to date.