Armed with the results of the survey, and with letters of support from the Royal Normal College and Academy of Music for the Blind and Lady Frances Campbell (an advocate of training for the blind in the U.K.), Mr.Alves once again approached the authorities. They were so impressed with his findings that the Colonial Secretary requested the Executive Council (Governing Council) by way of a motion in the Legislature, to give support to a scheme for the education and training of persons who were blind.
In 1913, (the exact date is unknown), the Legislative Council approved a motion for the establishment of a scheme for the instruction of the blind in Trinidad and Tobago. The Council also approved the “princely” grant of $100.00 per year for such work. The task was handed to the Industrial Training Board which appointed a Special Committee to oversee the process. The Committee comprised:
· C.B Franklin, Chairman.
· T.M. Blackman
· T.B. Jackson
· E.B. Jones
On April 28th, 1914, the Committee met and took a decision to rent premises at # 43, Edward Street, Port-of – Spain, for the establishment of what was to be known as the “Institute for the Blind”. Further, the Committee agreed to the appointment of Mrs. Lucinda Williams as Matron, with effect from May 1st. At that meeting, Mr. James Alves presented a list (with the personal data) of twenty-four persons who were blind and who resided in the Port-of –Spain area, (including twelve, who resided at the House of Refuge – a Poor House in the town), as the beneficiaries of the first programme.
The meeting later took the decision to commence preliminary work for the blind on May 18th, 1914.
As a consequence, under Mr. Alves’ guidance and with material support from numerous persons and institutions (both locally and overseas), the Institute for the Blind opened its doors on May 18th. [This later led to the observance of May 18th as “Founder’s Day”, by persons who are blind].