A 55-year-old disabled veteran is calling on the relevant authorities to do more to address the plight of disabled persons, despite welcoming the government’s newly approved national policy on disabilities.
Philip Clement, who suffers from Avascular Necrosis, a degenerative bone disease affecting both his hips, has faced unemployment, severe hardship, and a lack of assistance from several government agencies, leading to a rapid decline in his quality of life.
The St Lucy resident has since issued a call for greater involvement from government agencies in the lives of those they serve, for job opportunities for the disabled community, and for a more holistic support system that offers sustainable solutions to help vulnerable individuals regain independence.
Sharing that he was wrongfully dismissed from his job as a driver and general worker at a funeral home earlier this year, he noted that his condition, which leaves him in chronic pain and difficulty with mobility, makes securing new employment opportunities seem far-fetched, despite his willingness to work.
This, he declared, is the sad story of many others who are disabled.
“After losing my job, my standard of living dropped below the poverty line. I reached out to multiple agencies, including the National Disabilities Unit, the Welfare Department, and the Prime Minister’s Office, but nothing has significantly changed my situation,” Clement said.
He told Barbados TODAY that his financial hardship has even forced him to send his only companions away to live with family, as he could no longer support them.
“From January this year, the screws really turned. There was no food. I went days without eating. I could battle that on my own, but I couldn’t do that with my daughter and granddaughter. That’s when I told her: go back to your mom,” he said.
Clement’s calls to the government span beyond his personal difficulties, highlighting what he describes as inadequate support for disabled persons across Barbados.
Noting that he is determined to call for help for the community by urging agencies to be more proactive in assisting those like him, he said: “Right now, my pride is gone. I don’t have any industry [to protect], that’s why I’m speaking out.”
Now stuck in a fight far different from the ones he faced in service to his country, he is making a desperate plea to the powers that be: “Let me work.”
Clement, who still holds multiple driving licences, passionately pleaded: “There are jobs I can do. I can still drive. If the agencies won’t support me, then let me work. Let me provide for myself.”
His call is also a stark critique of the system meant to support vulnerable populations.
Clement believes that the agencies tasked with aiding the disabled have become detached, offering superficial support that does not address core issues.
“Don’t just stay in your air-conditioned offices and ask questions. Come out and see how we live. If you want to make a real change, be involved. Ask questions face-to-face. Understand our reality,” he said.
The hurting man, who said he hadn’t eaten in five days and had been unable to take his hypertension medication due to hunger, expressed the hope that his plea would lead to greater awareness and action.
When contacted about Clement’s calls, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey referred to the government’s new National Disabilities Policy. The policy, which has been approved by the Cabinet, includes measures to improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“The new policy addresses employment opportunities and many other areas,” he said. “We had over 76 meetings with the disabled community to settle the policy… We are proposing incentives for hiring persons with disabilities and penalties for clear cases of discrimination.”
Humphrey acknowledged the complexities of ensuring employment for people with disabilities, saying: “I cannot ensure anyone gets a job. Employers have the right to decide who they hire, but we can ensure fairness. We’re putting persons in the best position to get and keep jobs.”
Clement welcomed the policy but remained critical of how long it has taken to get to this point.
“Of course, I welcome it, but why are we still here as a developing country? Why are we still struggling to meet basic needs for people like me?” he asked.
Noting his determination to rally meaningful support for the vulnerable, he said: “I want to contribute to society, not be a burden. My job as a soldier isn’t done yet.”