Council for the Disabled welcomes new legislation

The long-awaited Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act, passed in Parliament on Tuesday, has been warmly welcomed by a leading disability campaigner who now calls for nationwide implementation.

Vice President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Ambassador Kerry-Ann Ifill, said she hoped that Barbadians would take it upon themselves to implement the law’s changes significantly for the disabled community.

“I would like to call on all Barbadians because it’s not just the government,” said Ifill. “It’s not just about legislation. It is about all Barbadians recognising that implementing this is all of our business.”

Ifill acknowledged the support from key government ministers in accomplishing such a milestone.

She said: “There was work put into it from many different sizes and forms. The last big push would be the National Committee for the Improvement of Lives of Persons with Disabilities, chaired by honourable Edmund Hinkson, the support from Minister [Kirk] Humphrey and the prime minister for this initiative has really pushed it forward.”

She stressed the work that began years ago to get the bill to this stage: “I mean this process started a long time ago, and many people have contributed to getting us where we are today.”

The former deputy president of the Senate who is also a consultant with the National Disabilities Unit pointed to the work that must now go into implementing the legislation: “I think the support has released a tool. Now the reality is gonna come when we work towards implementation and enacting these various clauses and bills. This is just another corner that we turn because there’s a lot more work ahead, but this is definitely another milestone to celebrate and be proud of.”

(LG)