Opposition calls on Transport Minister to ensure accessibility for disabled in public transport
Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today
Transport Minister Daryl Vaz is being urged to ensure that public transportation and public buildings are accessible to people with disabilities.
This call comes from the Opposition Spokesperson on Gender, Disabilities, and Inclusion, Denise Daley.
“This law mandates the Minister to ensure that public transportation is accessible to persons with disabilities, yet only two parishes have buses that are friendly to persons with disabilities, and even then, the availability is severely lacking. This glaring deficiency is a clear violation of the law and a stark reminder of the systemic barriers that persons with disabilities face daily,” Daley said.
Following the Transport Minister’s announcement that 100 new buses will be arriving on the island, Daley is calling on Vaz to provide specific details on how many of these new buses will be accessible for persons with disabilities and to clarify whether existing state-owned buses will be retrofitted to meet these requirements.
“The Minister’s inaction is unacceptable and perpetuates the marginalisation of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Daley. “We urge the Minister to take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that all Jamaicans have equal access to public transportation, as required by law.”
She said the lack of accessible transportation and infrastructure hinders the independence and quality of life of persons with disabilities, limiting their access to education, employment, healthcare, and other essential services.
“This neglect is a breach of their fundamental rights as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Disabilities Act of Jamaica. It is also a significant impediment to achieving the inclusive and equitable society envisioned in Vision 2030 Jamaica: National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Daley added.
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