The Tribune

THE framework for the establishment of a national commission for persons with disabilities has been included in the draft disability legislation scheduled to reach parliament before the end of the year, Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin told a high level United Nations meeting.

The commission will be responsible for ensuring the enforcement of and adherence to the provisions of the much-anticipated disability legislation for the Bahamas, she said.

Mrs Griffin also announced that the government is in the process of designing and constructing a post-school age facility for persons with disabilities and is expanding the country’s educational facilities to meet the needs of children with disabilities.

Addressing the High Level Meeting on the Realisation of the Millennium Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Mrs Griffin said the legislation will also provide for the co-ordination of government and private initiatives “to ensure that the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities are heard and acted upon.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell; Bahamian Ambassador to the United Nations Elliston Rahming; and newly appointed Bahamian Ambassador at-large Marilyn Zonicle, were in attendance.

Mrs Griffin was also accompanied by Director of Social Services Mellany Zonicle; Iris Adderley, consultant, Disability Affairs Division; and staff of the Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the United Nations.

The national commission for persons with disabilities is expected to include officials from government agencies such as the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Housing, along with representatives of organisations representing Persons With Disabilities, parents and caregivers and other NGOs.

Mrs Griffin told delegates that the entity must ensure that persons with disabilities have a voice.

“The voices of more than one billion persons with disabilities – roughly 15 per cent of the world’s population – must be heard, not just today during this High Level Meeting, but in the fast approaching years to 2015 and beyond,” Mrs Griffin said.

“Disability inclusive development is critical if we are to achieve sustainable development and ‘the Future We Want.’ The inter-linkages are clear. However, in our efforts to achieve sustainable development, we must not overlook the importance of ensuring a human rights-based approach.”

Mrs Griffin said in the Bahamas, the Disability Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development plays as key role, as the division’s mandate includes advocating and promoting the advancement and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

“We provide annual subventions to disability-related non-governmental organisations and benefits to disadvantaged children with disabilities under the age of 16.

“We are now in the process of designing and building a post, school-aged facility for persons with disabilities and are expanding our educational facilities to meet the needs of children with disabilities.”

Mrs Griffin said despite its successes, the Bahamas still faces a number of challenges in the delivery of disability-related services.

These challenges, she said, are exacerbated by the fact that “we are a nation of several islands in which all programmes and services must be duplicated.”

Minister Griffin said as a member of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “the Bahamas was pleased to note the discussions at the fourth session in June last and to hear the views expressed by a number of delegations for disabilities to be given due consideration in the elaboration of the SDGs.