A Tripartite Co-operation and Technical Assistance Agreement, which will see the establishment of a centre to assist young people with disabilities, was signed yesterday between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana and Cuba.
The signing ceremony took place at the CARICOM Secretariat between the Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Julio Cesar Gonzalez Marchante; Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Carl Greenidge and CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque
The signing will see the establishment of a Regional Training Centre for the “Development and Stimulation of Children, Adolescents and Young People with Special Educational Needs Associated with Disabilities.”
Marchante said the project will “constitute the materialization of the joint effort to serve a sector of our peoples that requires all the attention.”
Ambassador of Cuba Julio César González Marchante (right) making brief remarks prior to the signing of the agreement in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge (left) and CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque
(centre)
The Ambassador said too that “this beautiful and humane project required the work of the CARICOM Secretariat with all its members… to agree on how to deal with disability in the region and, in this way, to fulfil the duty to give the necessary tools to the people who need it in order to make them feel useful in the personal, family, community and society ambits, contributing to a better future.”
He noted that the decision to locate Guyana for the regional project, shows its commitment to the local disabled sector as well as to all the countries of the region for the necessary integration and co-operation.
He pointed out that Cuba would take on the technical assistance for the project and would contribute to the right of all to receive the education and preparation necessary for life.
He said the special day [of signing] serves to “reaffirm the commitment to continue strengthening relations, cooperation and integration among our Caribbean peoples” and as a tribute to Guyanese for celebration 50 years as an independent nation.
In expressing shock at the passing of the former Cuban President Fidel Castro Ruiz, Marchante said the region had arrived at the 44th anniversary of the establishment of relations between CARICOM and Cuba.
In his remarks, LaRocque said he was pleased to “sign the Agreement that will advance the implementation of this most desirable project.”
He said the project “emphasises the interest of all parties to address a very important social and humanitarian challenge facing the Region. It aims to use Cuba’s extensive experience in this area to assist CARICOM Member States in improving the lives of a vulnerable sector of our population.”
He noted that it is fitting that the ceremony was taking place less than one week after International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed on December 3.
“On behalf of the Member States of the Caribbean Community, I wish to convey heartfelt gratitude to the Government and People of Cuba for their generosity and this demonstration of the solidarity between us,” he stated.
He also expressed appreciation to the Government of Guyana for agreeing to host the regional centre and looked forward to “working collaboratively with the Governments of Cuba and of Guyana to successfully implement this project which will serve as yet another hallmark of CARICOM-Cuba collaboration.”
He too paid tribute to Castro, saying Cuba has lost a national icon and the Caribbean Community has lost a true friend.
“President Castro’s commitment to assist developing countries through the sharing of his country’s skills and expertise, made him such a treasured ally of our Region, that he is the only non-CARICOM recipient of our highest award, the Order of the Caribbean Community,” he said.
Execution
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greenidge remarked that an Oversight Committee comprising representatives from the MFA, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the National Commission on Disability, was established to examine, monitor and make recommendations for the execution of the project for the creation of the training centre.
He recalled: “At the Fourth CARICOM-Cuba Summit held in Trinidad and Tobago, December 2011, the Government of Cuba proposed, for joint execution with the region, a number of projects aimed at strengthening the CARICOM-Cuba programme of cooperation.”
He added: “Accordingly, Guyana at the Fifteenth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), held in Suriname (May 2012) agreed to undertake the lead role for the” project.
He stressed that the project is sustained by innovative thinking and valuable support that has characterised cooperation between Cuba and the region.
The minister acknowledged the extent of support by the late President Castro and expressed sadness at his loss.
He said government is committed to “rehabilitate a temporary site within the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to house the office space to be utilised by the Cuban Specialists during the initial phase(s) of the project.”
It has also commence construction of the building that will house the centre and said 80 percent of it has been completed so far.
Among the intended outcomes of the centre, he said is to improve the training for teachers who will provide educational attention for persons with disabilities and enhance guidance and participation of families and community agents in their attention to children, adolescents, youths and adults with disabilities. (Shabna Rahman)
