Former government minister Edmund Hinkson is giving the assurance that the National Policy on Disabilities and draft legislation should be on the way to Cabinet soon.
The Chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Disabilities told the Lower House “We now have a draft national policy document as comprehensive as could be
and we have draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities legislation. So we’re on the cusp to take off.”
He outlined that the documents were currently before the Ministry of People Empowerment and with the stakeholder meetings set to end on Thursday, it should not be too long before Cabinet could make its recommendations.
“Once we sign off on that national policy document and make sure that the draft legislation is coherent and in coordination with the policies, (we will be able) to finally have the ministry look at it for onward progress for Cabinet’s consideration, and hopefully, I will be standing up in this Parliament in the next few months, debating the enactment of a Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill because this is important,” he added.
Speaking on the First Jobs initiative outlined by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in her budget speech, Hinkson said that persons with disabilities will also be included for a “piece of the cake” in government contracts and procurements.
“You heard the Prime Minister speak as well in terms of the workshop to train people with disabilities within the National Disabilities Unit in small engine repairs, lawn mowers, weed whackers, blowers and how it is estimated that 40 people with disabilities will be able to be trained and certified in this area. But it has to go much further than that. There has to be a much better platform and path set in this country for persons with disabilities in terms of their full participation as it is their human and constitutional right in terms of accessibility, in terms of education and in terms of employment,” he said.
Earlier in his presentation, the attorney-at-law noted that inclusive education is key for special needs children.
“Special needs children have to be accounted for and given the opportunity to fulfill their potential and their talents, like everybody else has that right,” he added. Hinkson noted that with many students being educated for jobs that do not exist, a wider job market must be created that was accessible to all.
(JB)
