'People's National Party (PNP) Disability Act deadline unrealistic'

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Wednesday | August 15, 2007

Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, Ransford Wright, has described as unrealistic, promises made by the People's National Party (PNP) to pass the National Disability Act by December.

"I don't think that it is a realistic deadline," he told The Gleaner. "I hardly see it happening this year I would rather say sometime in 2008."

The PNP in its 2007 manifesto has promised to put legislation in place that would protect the rights of members of the disabled community. Cabinet in 2005 gave drafting instructions for the legislation to be put in place. Since then, an islandwide consultation with members of the community has taken place.

Yesterday, Mr. Wright said the consultation process was still on-going with the final one set for September.

"Not until the end of the consultation process ... before we go back to the chief parliamentary counsel to get the final draft," he explained. "We are making some progress, but I would not say it will be the end of this year."

The PNP also promises to establish a commission, which would establish and monitor a timetable, which would hold all stakeholders accountable to ensuring that there is adherence to the United Nation's Convention on the rights of persons with disability.

Holding both parties to their promises

Both Mr. Wright and Virginia Woods, executive director of the Jamaica Society for the Blind, have welcome this promise. But Miss Woods is adamant that she would be holding both parties to their promises to the disabled community.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in its manifesto, has also pledged to enact the National Disability Act and review all other relevant statutes and policy initiatives to remove provisions that discriminate against disabled persons.

The JLP said it would require that all new buildings and facilities accessible to the public, are also disabled-friendly. The party said it would require that operators of public passenger vehicles, as a condition of their licence, provide facilities or offer special assistance to disabled persons.