By Mia Anthony
In a gesture aimed at supporting the differently-abled community, Mohammed’s Bookstore Limited of Trinidad and Tobago has donated a swimming pool to the SEND [Special Education Needs/ Disability] Diagnostics Centre in Turkeyen.
The facility, named the “Edward Mohammed Pool”, honours the son of Teddy Mohammed, the bookstore’s owner, who shares a personal connection to the differently-abled community.
The sod-turning ceremony for the project was held on January 3, 2023. The pool, which was funded entirely by Mohammed’s Bookstore Limited, is the result of a longstanding collaboration between Teddy Mohammed and the Ministry of Education. Mohammed, whose son is visually impaired, shared his motivation for the donation, recounting the story of how he first discovered his son’s natural affinity for swimming.
Speaking with the Sunday Stabroek, Mohammed reflected on the day when he took his son, who is blind, to a pool for some recreational fun. Initially cautious, Mohammed ensured his son wore inflatable floats. “One of the floats burst while I was watching him closely,” he recalled, adding, “But to my surprise, he kept swimming, so I decided to take off the other float. He just swam effortlessly, as if it was second nature to him.”
This experience was a turning point for Mohammed, inspiring him to contribute a similar facility to a centre that catered to the differently-abled. Mohammed, together with his wife, conceptualised the idea of donating a pool to a facility that could provide other differently-abled children and adults the same opportunity to enjoy water activities.
After conceiving the project, Mohammed approached the Ministry of Education with an offer to fund the development of a swimming pool specifically designed for differently-abled individuals. The Ministry embraced the proposal, and construction of the pool was completed in 2024 at a cost of approximately US$100,000.
At the official unveiling yesterday of the Edward Mohammed Pool, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, expressed her ministry’s commitment to expanding similar facilities across the country. “Following the successful completion of this project, the Ministry is looking at adding swimming pools for the differently-abled in regions Three and Five,” she said.
Manickchand also disclosed that the ministry is currently seeking land to build a dedicated school for the hearing impaired, underscoring the government’s broader initiative to enhance facilities for special-needs education.
As part of the expansion, the Minister emphasised the importance of ensuring that pools are adequately staffed with trained lifeguards. The Ministry’s Allied Arts Department has been tasked with overseeing lifeguard training and ensuring that safety standards are maintained across all future projects.
The Edward Mohammed Pool, located at the SEND Diagnostics Centre, has a depth of four feet and is designed to accommodate a variety of users, including those with mobility challenges. The facility aims to promote physical activity, therapy, and recreation for the differently-abled community, encouraging inclusivity and providing opportunities for aquatic skill development.
