End prejudice against the deaf, other PLWDs

PREJUDICE AGAINST THE COUNTRY’S DEAF and other groups o people living with
disabilities (PLWDs) must end, said Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindya
Persaud.
Dr Persaud made the call Thursday universally observed as International Day of Sign Languages
observed annually on September 23. This year’s theme was, ‘We Sign for Human Rights.
In Guyana, the Human Services Ministry chose to promote sign language learning as an effective
communication tool to help dismantle prejudice and other social structures affecting
advancement of the deaf and hearing-impaired communities.
Globally, there are some 72 million deaf persons, with 80 percent of these comes from
developing countries, such as Guyana. However, locally, there are over 2,000 persons with
hearing impairment who, according to the ministry, are predominantly from Regions Essequibo
Islands/West Demerara (Region Three); Demerara/Mahaica (Region Four); East
Berbice/Corentyne (Region Six); and Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten).
Since Guyana is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, the ministry has been engaging the Deaf Association of Guyana in several
innovative ways. Persons from the deaf community participated in its cottage industry initiative
last year, which allowed for a number of them to earn a living by sewing face masks that were
then distributed to various agencies across Guyana, the Social Services Ministry said.
It said the disability community holds a special place in the heart of minister, Dr. Vindhya
Persaud who has been credited with expending efforts to bring improvement to this sector.
A MHSSS press statement said it will roll out a series of skills-based training targeting persons
with disabilities to empower and qualified them to gain meaningful employment and even
become their own bosses.

In this year’s budget some $120M has been allocated for training and empowerment activities for
the PLWD community. Hundreds are expected to benefit from the free training programmes
across the country.
The Ministry has sponsored printing of sign language booklets, and will also construct a
disability complex in Mahaica to offer relevant and practical training for PLWDs.
Additionally, the ministry firmly believes that a more equitable and inclusive society must
be created where PLWDs including the deaf, can feel valued and fully integrated into
mainstream society with the guarantee that their basic human rights are respected and
protected.