Saint Lucia joins the rest of the world in celebrating World Disability Day on December 3rd 2024. Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Jeremiah Norbert, says the government is embarking on a comprehensive policy to empower differently-abled people.
The Minister calls on Saint Lucians to show more regard for those who live with disabilities.
“We have a culture in Saint Lucia where people are not very disability friendly. People don’t respect disability-specific legislation or signs, the Minister said.
Recalling instances he has witnessed himself, Norbert drew attention to motorists ignoring parking areas designated for persons with disabilities.
“You see this kind of disregard when you go into the supermarkets, when you go along Bridge Street next to the General Post Office. 90% of the time, persons who are not disabled occupy the parking for persons with disability,” Norbert articulated during Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing.
The Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities encourages citizens to see the potential in differently-abled persons.
“The only disability that anybody can have is the inability to see ability in somebody who has a disability,” he said, adding that the government is making strides at establishing a disability policy. This policy, he says, will assist persons with disabilities with contributing even more meaningfully to society.
“We’ve expanded the scholarship program to ensure that persons with disabilities now have an equal opportunity to get a scholarship and to succeed. We are looking at putting together a disability registry. We’ve already started the groundwork as it relates to that. We’ve partnered with CARICOM and other international agencies to ensure that persons who are unable to afford a prosthetic limb, for instance, will have an opportunity to get a prosthetic limb at no cost,” he explained.
