Community spokeswoman among those recognised by Rotary Club

Roslyn Hurley, who is nationally recognised as the voice of disabled persons, is one of three individuals dubbed heroes by the Rotary Club of Barbados South during the current coronavirus crisis.
Hurley’s longstanding work to gain acceptance and recognition of persons with disabilities was rewarded recently with an annual Vocation Service Award during an online ceremony held by the service organisation.
The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) was also presented with a Vocation Service Award.

As a former President of the Barbados National Organisation of the Disabled (BARNOD) and now Special Envoy for people with disabilities, Hurley has represented the rights of disabled persons and in designing programmes for them locally and in regional and international forums.

A 24-year veteran of public service, she received the award alongside Dr Corey Forde, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control/Infectious Diseases Programmes at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Nurse Glendora Seale, who was instrumental in setting up the Harrison Point, St Lucy COVID-19 medical facility and the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

These individuals and the Sanitation Service Authority were hailed for their contributions as frontline workers against the pandemic which has accounted for 43 deaths.
Rotary Club of Barbados President Michael Forde said: “I am very sure that history will list this year’s recipients of our Vocational Service Awards, the Sanitation Service Authority, Nurse Glendora Seale, Roslyn Hurley and Dr Corey Forde among the heroes of our survival effort during the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Each year we select a number of individuals or organisations typically three or four who in our judgement have achieved high levels of excellence in their vocations and have exemplified outstanding professional achievement and through such vocations have rendered outstanding service to the Barbadian community,” Forde added.

Hurley said: “During the pandemic my organisation was very concerned about the wellbeing of members of the disabled community.

The director, staff of the National Disability Unit and I joined hands and focused on the actual wellbeing of the disabled community and discussed how we could ensure that their basic needs and wellbeing were met.”
She continued: “These awards are a reminder that our society must always be mindful of the wellbeing of people with disabilities and should make every effort to ensure that their basis needs are satisfied.”
“I have always appreciated the work of the Rotarians and vividly remember with appreciation when the National Disability Unit was presented with the gift of the first beach wheelchair in Barbados. The gift of the beach wheelchair presented the opportunity for the beginning of the Aquatic Day events,” Hurley added.

“The disabled who had not gone to the beach in years were elated when they first felt that salt water on their skins and this was an outing they looked forward to every month,” the Special Envoy for the disabled added.
(HH)