Call for constituency offices to facilitate wheelchair access

 

Jamaica Charity for the Homeless and Disabled has issued a strong appeal to the country's two main political parties for constituency offices to facilitate wheelchair access.

 

The organisation says more than half of the 63 constituency offices lack wheelchair access such as ramps and lifts.

 

Executive Director Cleon Porter says this is unacceptable oversight and violates the over three-year-old Disabilities Act.

 

He says the situation also excludes persons with disabilities from engaging with their elected representatives and participating in the democratic process.

 

"When such facilities are inaccessible, it effectively disenfranchises persons with disabilities, impeding the ability to exercise their political rights and engage fully in democratic process. It is disheartening to see that so many political offices remain non-compliant. Failure to renovate and retrofit these offices not only breaches the Disabilities Act, but also violates international conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities," said Mr. Porter. 

 

The charity emphasised that this failure is not only a breach of the law but also undermines basic human rights and invites potential legal action.

 

With elections drawing closer, the group is calling for the immediate retrofitting of all constituency offices to facilitate wheelchair access.