Relief for children with disabilities in north

Irish said the facility is 49 percent completed
Irish said the facility is 49 percent completed

Some 35 children in the north of the island, living with disabilities and their parents,  are to get some relief with the completion of a Respite Center in Chance, Portsmouth.

Construction for the Respite Center Project, which will cater for children with special needs, is almost half way completed and the keys should be handed over by October, or even before that, President of Parents Advocating for the Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Society (PACIS), Ainsworth Irish said.

He was speaking at the annual general meeting of PACIS, held on the weekend.

“I am pleased to report that the Respite Center is 49 percent complete,” he said. “By the end of October or even before, the contractors should hand over the building of the Respite Center…”

He described the building as a “lovely edifice” which will cater for some 35 children of the north from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

Irish noted that the parents too will get relief since they can leave their children at the center while they work.

“Thirty five parents will be gainfully employed in the sense that they cannot leave their homes, they have to stay home and take care of those children; we will provide that kind of care,” he stated.

He gave “full marks” to the government of Dominica for providing $800,000 for the construction of the facility under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).

PACIS reported last year that there are some 4,000 children living with disabilities in Dominica with over 60 percent coming from Portsmouth, Marigot and St. Joseph.

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15 Comments

  1. Concerned Parent
    August 26, 2014

    This is not a Government Project or a political Matter. So stop treating it like it is. Parents and Members of thhe association worked very hard and beg and pleaded for over 15 years to get this project off the ground. Dominicans must stop seeing everything as a political issue. The government after 10 years of writing to them and walking up and down ministry agreed to give the land….took another 3-4 years to have a project written and approved by CDB via BNTF. Show your support by donating your time or resources to see this through instead of turning it into a political gimmick.

  2. SamsGutter
    August 25, 2014

    I would pray that the day will come when children with disabilities are not relegated to a life in which they are removed from society.

  3. August 25, 2014

    Excuse me Mr .Irish stop the politicking was about to comment on it but just realized West Coast put it rightly . Why you guys keep trying to deceive people . OMG . Stop IT !

  4. Anonymous
    August 25, 2014

    That’s a lot of disabled kids. It means that more than 5% of Dominica’s Total population has a disability. Wow… we need to invest some resources investigating the nature and more importantly, the causes of the current disabilities with the aim of coming up with preventative measures for future generations. we also need to invest in education and support programs to assist many of the disabled to become productive citizens because many of them possess special/ unique talents.

    Thanks to PACIS for setting the wheels in motion. Keep up the good work!

  5. CIA on the Watch
    August 25, 2014

    I can now understand why this guy retired from the Police Service so he can continue his political operations which he could not do while in uniform, Good luck to that center and its operation

  6. WestCoast
    August 25, 2014

    Mr. Irish, when will you stop signing for your supper. You were in the Police force you were doing it, now you are out and it continues. The Basic Needs Trust Fund ( BNTF) is not government funds. That kind of financing comes from outside after writing up projects. As a matter of fact the foreign donors are the ones saying who will be the consultant. The government has no say as to who will be the consultant. Hence, you need to stop spreading propaganda by praising government. Government will get praise when we start seeing Dominica moving forward.

    • real possie
      August 25, 2014

      @ WestCoast, is that fair? you all praised Nicho 1st when he joined the UWP to represent Caulihau now all the man doing is a job to help the disabled kids you saying he singing this childish ways could only keep us back. My God let Dominica VIVE noh man.

  7. Proud Dominican
    August 25, 2014

    A very Good Initiative from the Government and it’s Sponsors to people of the North and environs. I would respectfully advised also that the building eventually remained open 24 hours a day and all through the year. In the meantime, if possible the Authorities and those concerned should try to find out why the North has such a high incident of Disabilities, 60 percent? that is a bit worrisome to me some studies must be done to ascertain the underlying causes, if genetic or otherwise. The expertise are available globally or regionally. God Bless Dominica and it’s wonderful people.

    • August 26, 2014

      If you a so proud then I ask what happened why these individuals were not getting help for 14years disability is not an over night illness, so why must my people have to wait to get treatment only when is Election time how long will we the people of Dominica stoop to such disrespect from the authorities . God will always bless Dominica but SATAN have us by the hand

      • concerned Parent
        August 30, 2014

        Once again disability is not an illness. Some are worse than others and its not contagious. As well it is not a political matter that came about before election. Those individuals were not getting help before for the same reason it took so long to get this project off the ground. The country and its people especially those LIKE YOU still dont show them your support but always have something negative to say.

    • Happy
      August 27, 2014

      If it remain open 24 hours some people will want to abandon and leave their kids at the center and this is not the purpose! read again!.

      • concerned Parent
        August 30, 2014

        Very True Happy.
        to all those interested and wants to show support in cash or kind visit http://www.facebook.com/dominicapacis

  8. winston warrington
    August 25, 2014

    This is a much needed intervention because the statistic is alarming! Children comprise close to 25% of our population of 72,000 and that means over 20% (1 out of 5) of all children below the age of 14 suffer some disability worthy of concern. This is more than a health issue.

  9. Anthony Ismael
    August 25, 2014

    That’s a really large percentage of children with this disease. Good work Mr. Irish.

    • Concerned Parent
      August 26, 2014

      Ismael, its not a disease as opposed to a challenge. The children are not ill, they are just unable to walk, talk, hear, slow in learning etc.

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