US Government sends experts to help implement Disabilities Act
/ Our Today
administratorTalks already held with Edmund Bartlett and Ministry of Tourism
The United States government has dispatched two experts to assist Jamaica implement the 2022 Disabilities Act.
In national efforts to cater to the needs of the disabled population, the Holness administration welcomed Ambassador Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs; and Sara Minkara, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) who both arrived earlier this week to discuss consular priorities of mutual interest.
Already, the pair have had meaninful exchanges with Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, with whom discussions were held on the matter of inclusive and accessible tourism as well as Jamaica’s potential for growth in the disabilities niche.
At a courtesy call on Minister Bartlett on Wednesday (January 17), Ambassador Bitter highlighted notable advancements at the national level, such as the Disabilities Act coming into effect in 2022.
Bartlett underscored that catering to this market segment could not only create opportunities for small hoteliers but also contribute to diversifying Jamaica’s product offering.
Highlighting the significant spending power of travellers with disabilities, Minkara advocated for the serious consideration of disabled individuals’ needs in the development of the Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy (DAFS).
The meeting was attended by representatives from the US Embassy led by Ambassador Nick Perry as well as technocrats from the tourism ministry.
This new act outlines provisions for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in Jamaican society in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities.
The Disabilities Act came into effect on February 14, 2022, following its approval in 2014 and the affirmation of the Disabilities Regulations in 2021.
The act makes provisions to safeguard and enhance the welfare of persons with disabilities across Jamaica.
It also aims to protect and promote equal rights for the disabled and prohibits discrimination against them, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), of which Jamaica is a signatory.
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