All of society must help disabled

Message from Hon., Kirk Humphrey, M.P., Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs in commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2022

It has been my life’s privilege to serve as Minister with responsibility for persons with disabilities since January 2022. I want to commend the organisations that have been working tirelessly on behalf of persons with disabilities in this country. I celebrate every success in this fight, but more so I commend your commitment recognising, that the outcomes are not always directly related to your effort. In some ways Barbados has done very well but in others our record represents policy, programming and people failures that we can no longer excuse, encourage or engage in.  It is for this reason that the theme this year, Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world, “resonates” so deeply with me.

It is my pleasure to bring you these greetings in commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) 2022. Today marks the time we must reflect on the circumstances of those among us who have been categorised as persons with disabilities. This group of persons can arguably be classified as the most disadvantaged group in society by the challenges they experience in all aspects of daily living. From health matters, employment, transportation, communication, accessibility, discrimination and many more that the average person does not experience but take for granted, reflect the daily lives of PWDs. 

We as a society must find new and aggressive ways to minimise the hindrances faced by our unfortunate brothers and sisters. This is not the role of government alone but that of all social institutions that can make a difference. From individuals to families, communities to state actors, there must be a concerted effort by us all to ensure that all Barbadians, including persons with disabilities, have equal opportunities to maximise their potential.

The government is cognizant of the many challenges encountered by PWDs and is steadfast in its resolve to make Barbados fully accessible for not only our population with disabilities but also for those from around the world in similar circumstances and who want to share the pleasures of our island. In this regard, we are working assiduously to advance the welfare of PWDs through improved infrastructural provisions, learning opportunities, sporting endeavours, modern assistive devises and utilisation of technology to level the playing field. In this we cannot discount the contribution made by civil society organisations like the Barbados Council for the Disabled and its affiliates, other service organisations and philanthropists in making their own contributions. Once we continue to work together this seemingly insurmountable hill will be climbed.

 We can learn from each other how to develop innovative strategies that can be used as transformative solutions to catalyse our quest for an accessible and equitable world. That is the approach government is undertaking and the outcome will be outlined in the forthcoming National Policy on Persons with Disabilities. This will be buttressed by legislation to protect the rights of PWDs and the amalgamation of the social service agencies to foster greater efficiency and effectiveness. The intent of these undertakings is to transform Barbados into a more just and equitable society where all its citizens can thrive.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities I urge all parties, those with disabilities, those caring for the disabled, those working for the betterment of PWDs, those who interact with PWDs and all other persons to mark this day with compassion by reaching out to a PWD and assisting with making their life less challenging. However, do not stop there but encourage others to do the same all year round. Of the many agencies with which I have worked in the past, none have been more pleasing than working with the Barbados Council for the Disabled. Your leadership through the years has not gone unnoticed. As Minister I give the community of persons with disabilities this assurance, that in me they have an ally, a champion. and a friend and that together we will right the wrong of the past and chart a positive path forward for all persons in Barbados with disabilities.

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