Key stakeholders shared their views on the draft 2023-2030 National Policy for Improving the Lives of Persons with Disabilities in Barbados during a major consultation, recently.
And, over the next few months, the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs will seek to put in place the policy which will be followed by extensive and comprehensive legislation to improve the lives of those with disabilities.
Speaking during the opening session, Minister Kirk Humphrey noted that extensive work was done on the document, which was prepared and written by Professor Dwayne Devonish.
Mr. Humphrey explained that policies need to be linked with legislation to cover a number of prevalent issues and trends, and set relevant timelines.
The Minister lamented that in the social services sector it seemed as if the world had gone, without it being recognised that the world had changed.
“When we introduced the legislation for the protection of children, the overarching guiding legislation was written in 1904, pieces in 1990, and the legislation that guides the Ministry, mostly the National Assistance Act, was written in 1969,” he said.
Mr. Humphrey also stated that where Barbados was institutionally in its legislative framework was “almost archaic”, and in need of change. He underscored the importance of partnerships going forward, noting that Government could not do it alone.
“The people who have led this work…are the most important players in this entire conversation. As a Government, we get to pull it all together, but the drivers of it, the people who have to live with it; [those who] live with the abuse; [those who] live with the discrimination, [and] live with the inability to get work, those real experiences are what we have to understand and craft into helping us shape a policy,” Mr. Humphrey stated.
Chairman of the National Advisory Committee to Guide the Establishment of a Commission to Improve the Lives of Persons with Disabilities, Edmund Hinkson, said it was hoped that the policy would be followed by extensive and comprehensive legislation to improve the lives of those with disabilities.
Noting that over 60 meetings were held leading up to the preparation of the document, Mr. Hinkson explained it outlined how Barbadians should treat people with disabilities.
He added that the policy will integrate the Commission on Disabilities, when it is established under the law, into the ministerial mandate, and also address long, short and medium term plans towards its implementation.
Mr. Hinkson said he hoped to get the final document to the Ministry by mid-March and a report by the end of March, before seeking Cabinet approval, and it being laid before Parliament.
Meanwhile, President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Kerryann Ifill, said through the consultation, they had joined with the Government and people of Barbados to ensure that the lives of persons with disabilities going forward were less complex, less challenged, and more importantly that they have a better value.