The Tribune

THE rights of the disabled will be made clear through the passage of a Bill that is nearing its completion for presentation to Parliament.

In the lead-up to the passage of this Bill for persons with disabilities, a town meeting was held to allow various sectors of society the opportunity to voice their opinion about the legislation, hosted by the Bahamas National Council for Disability (BNCD).

The proposed Persons with Disability Equal Opportunities Bill town meeting brought together persons with disabilities, caregivers, legislators, administrators and the general public under the theme: “Express Yourself, Your Opinion Counts!”

Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services and Community Development, announced that the legislation is now in its final stages after having consultations with various sectors of society throughout New Providence as well as Grand Bahama, Exuma and Abaco.

Last September, Minister Griffin went to New York to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Mrs Griffin told those in attendance that once the law is passed, every public place will have three years to be up to par with the legislation. That will include having parking spots properly designated, as well as properly functioning wheelchair access and other amenities.

The Bill addresses employment, education, health, accessibility, and housing provisions. Mrs Griffin said the Ministry is presently in discussions with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation to iron out a few kinks as it relates to employment provisions. She expressed her confidence in those issues being worked out and in the start the Bill gives to proper designations for persons with disabilities.

Dr Leila Greene, ministry consultant, pointed out that there are some key principles to the UN convention that carries through in the Bill, including discrimination, accessibility, and equality.

BNCD President Townsley Roberts said it is most important to persons with disabilities, like himself, to be able to “live the Bahamian dream” and be independent in daily living “without labels that limit us”.

Former president Sheila Culmer was present to facilitate, and was congratulated for her efforts in helping to bring the green and white papers for the Bill into existence.

Panelist, lawyer Dion Hanna, said the legislation is a “small tribute to the great sacrifices” that have been made to bring the Bill into existence.

He said it is important for the Bill to be passed as it is the foundation to build on for so much more.

He said one of the problems is that the English law actually allows people to discriminate, pointing to a case ruled upon by Lord Patrick Devlyn. He expressed a concern that more attention needs to be paid to caregivers, who go through so much to attend to loved ones and those in their care. College of the Bahamas Professor Felix Bethel, a current caregiver, agreed.

Transport Minister Glenys Hanna Martin was present to hear the concerns expressed by persons with disabilities in terms of transportation and access. Rev CB Moss served as master of ceremonies, and Dr Carolyn Hanna also presented her views. BNCD members Kaleisha Rolle and Tarmina Strachan also participated. Questions from the public ranged from allocations for parking decals, to the actual number of disabled in the country.

The BNCD is a body corporate made up of 15 members – five from the community of persons with disabilities; five ministries: works, youth, sports and culture, health, education, and transport; one member representing unions, civic groups and employers each; and two representing caregivers.

In 2010 the Department of Statistics announced that there were 10,138 registered persons with a disability in the country.