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Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (centre), chats with President of the Senate of Barbados, Kerryann Ifill, while visiting Jamaican Senator, Floyd Morris listens in. (A. Miller/BGIS)??

Enhancing the integration of persons with disabilities into various activities in the community was the focal point of discussion, when Senator Floyd Morris, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

During the meeting at Parliament yesterday, the Jamaican Senator, who lost his sight at age 20 as a result of Glaucoma, pledged to assist the island in pursuing policies and programmes to benefit persons with disabilities in the community.

Senator Morris, a former Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the current Director of the Centre for Disabilities Studies at the University of the West Indies Mona campus, was instrumental in ratifying his country’s United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Although Barbados and Jamaica signed the Convention in 2007, Barbados has yet to ratify it.?? In this regard, Senator Morris agreed to lend a hand in this effort.

"…You will have to do a lot of research on disabilities.?? At Mona we just completed one on access and inclusion at primary and secondary schools in Jamaica and we have completed one on reproductive health and we are currently doing research on broadband access and ICT technology for the disabled.

"So, we are building a body of research to help states to formulate adequate policies for persons with disabilities.?? I am available to give support to the Government, the people of Barbados and the disabled community," he affirmed.????

Prime Minister Stuart welcomed Senator Morris’ assistance to the disabled and explained that it was government’s vision to create a just society for such persons.

"As far as we are concerned, persons with disabilities are part of the Barbadian society and as such, we take the view that every facility should be put in place to ensure that they [disabled] can contribute to the society in every respect.

"The key of vision is the creation of a just society and [the] key to realising that vision, is by ensuring that whatever their circumstances [they] can fit in and realise their potential," he added.

julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb

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