Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 19, 2010 News
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – The Disabled People’s Network in Region Six is gearing up for Blind Awareness Month which would be observed next month. To mark the occasion, a blind cricket match and a leather craft exhibition are among activities billed for East Berbice/Corentyne.
Omesh Jhagroo, Vice President of the Disabled People’s Network in Region Six, said although life for the members of the group is a challenge, they are capable of making contributions to society. The exhibition would have on display items made by persons with disabilities from Rose Hall Town to New Amsterdam, and is aimed at showcasing their skills. The date is yet to be set for the exhibition as well as other events.
To successfully pull off the exhibition, a blind cricket match would be held on May 26th at the Rose Hall, Canje Welfare Center Ground to raise funds. The cricket match would feature sighted under-15 players from East Berbice coming up against persons of all ages from the Guyana Blind Cricket Team based in Georgetown.
According to him, the Berbice squad would be entirely made up of persons with sight. This is so since Berbice is now trying to establish a blind cricket team and so far only eight visually impaired people have indicated an interest. These persons began going through the paces in October 2009 but are not yet ready for competition level. This training entails feeling the ball, bowling, batting and listening for the ball. To the players, this is a challenge since hearing plays a critical role and keen attention is a must.
Jhagroo explained that it would take at least one year for the Berbice blind players to reach the desired level. He noted that even though they would have lost their vision and other senses would have compensated, still some things do not come easily.
According to him, the blind cricket team comprises three categories – ‘B One’ for persons who are totally blind, ‘B Two’ persons who can see to an extent but the vision is poor and ‘B Three’ is where the persons can see fairly well. The ‘B One’ cricket players would be placed close to the batsmen, the ‘B Two’ not far off from the ‘B One’ and the ‘B Three’ would occupy the rest of the field. Practice sessions are held at Seafield Village on the West Coast of Berbice every Monday at 13:00 hours.
Jhagroo is appealing to persons to support the event which is being hosted in collaboration with the Berbice Cricket Board of Control.
Omesh Jhagroo, a 28-year old resident of Albion lost sight in both eyes three years ago as a result of an eye disease. At that time he was an employee of the New Amsterdam Post Office. He explained that his problem began since he was nine years old. Back then he experienced blurred vision which eventually got worse. In 2001, he was finally diagnosed in Brazil after undergoing a series of tests.
Today he has totally adjusted and can handle whatever he is faced with.
“I have a lot of support from my parents and family as a whole as well as friends. I want to become a counselor for persons with disabilities.”
He said that some persons who are faced with adverse situations may have suicidal tendencies and this is where he can make a difference by showing there is more to life. He now attends computer classes for the blind and is a member of the Berbice Blind Cricket Team.
The members of the Disabled People’s Network in Region Six are also encouraging persons with disabilities to make use of training programmes – Braille and information technology now being offered by the group. The sessions are free and are opened to persons in and around East Berbice/Corentyne.
The members meet at the New Amsterdam Special Needs School in Vryman’s Erven on the first and last Friday each month. The aim of the organisation is to help prepare those living with physical and other challenges to be better equipped to survive in today’s society.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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