I’m at the Regional Assembly of DPI NAC. That’s Disabled Peoples’ International North America and the Caribbean. It takes place every two years, and this time we are in St Kitts. It’s hard work and I have genuinely lost count of the number of speakers. As I am typing this I am listening to Annicia Gayle-Geddes from the Caribbean Development Bank talking about Disability Assessment in Borrowing Member Countries.
CDB has a number of policy objectives and the work of people like Dr Gayle-Geddes, who is a Social Analyst, is crucial in determining that CDB money is delivering these. One of their objectives is tackling poverty, and any form of discrimination in education or employment, whether direct or in the form of structural barriers, increases a community’s vulnerability to that. CDB is piloting a project to improve data collection and analysis across the region and early work has identified a lack of progress over a number of areas.
It’s a heavy subject for just after lunch and a few people are nodding off, but others are loud and passionate. Dr Gayle-Geddes is an extremely knowledgable and intelligent woman and knows what the data says. This is that even if a disabled person achieves the same academic results as a non-disabled person (which they tend not to), they are still less likely to get suitable employment. The issue is worse for people with invisible disabilities. It’s a legislation issue and it’s a human rights issue. But the legislation has to have an impact.
Delegates to the assembly said that the CDB were putting their money where their mouth is, and bids for funding from Caribbean Governments that include initiatives to tackle disability discrimination are getting approved. But CDB needs to track whether people are getting jobs as a result, particularly in the private sector.
As I said, we are in St Kitts for the event and we started the day, seven hours ago now, with a formal opening ceremony featuring the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Shawn Richards, and the Minister of Health, Eugene Hamilton. Mr Richards opened with an inspiring speech outlining the St Kitts and Nevis approach to disability. He said the Government was driven by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and seeks to ensure that all new developments, including roads and buildings, are fully accessible by all citizens including those in wheelchairs. He listed the achievements of his Government in respect of disabled people
The Minister of Health followed up with more detail We do what we do because “we believe persons with disabilities are humans like anyone else and have the right to enjoy the same freedoms as everyone else.”
That means buildings with elevators and houses with accessible bathrooms. “Taking strides to ensure that all new houses are wheelchair accessible”. Disability is hugely important to the Government, he said, and they had seen the forecast for the number of people with disabilities in 30 years time. The country can’t afford not to address the needs of disabled people in its current developments.
“We must find ways to ensure that disabled people can move around safely. We must do more in employment and education, we must eradicate discrimination. Disabled people must not be restricted in living an independent life.”
He did mention that St Kitts and Nevis had not yet signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. “Had we been in power longer we would have done so by now”, he said. This led to an unusual vote of thanks. “I was hoping to hear that you had signed the Convention,” said Ms Cheverton, who prosed the vote. “Do you need a pen? I can lend you a pen. We can send you a whole bunch of pens. Thank you for what you have done, but if you don’t sign we can’t hold you to account.”.
After the opening ceremony, we had several presentations on Antigua and Barbuda’s approach to Community-based rehabilitation (CBR). These were made jointly by the local disability association and Samantha Marshall, Antigua’s Minister for Social Transformation. CBR is a technique developed by the WHO to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families and ensure their inclusion and participation.
But think about it for a minute. The Minister of Social Transformation came over from Antigua for the day, as part of a delegation of disabled people, to give a very low-key technical address on a specific project in her country, to another disparate group of disabled people from other countries. She just seemed proud of what her Government was doing. I was impressed.
During the Antigua presentation Bernard Warren, President of their Disability Association, said that he now ran an accessible taxi business with three cars that took unfolded wheelchairs. He needs nothing from the government, can promote tourism on the island, and can transport the disabled of Antigua to protests when he has to. It was ideal for an independent disabled activist.
At 4.15 we started on the strategic review of the Disabled People’s International NAC. We’re 7 hours and 45 minutes into the day so far. I’m not sure how long this is going to go on for. Where’s the coffee? Why is there never any coffee at these things? Where is the Red Cross manual of ice breakers when you need it? I’m flagging, but as you can see, I’m still paying attention.
Craig Brewin’s Blog 