CARIMAC Times 2016: The JREAM Edition Journalists Reviving Awareness of what Matters | Page 145

An excerpt from the Disabilities Act (2014)
Graphic by Yohan S. R. Lee

Then Minister of Labour and Social Security,
Derrick Kellier told the public that the Act is
intended to reduce the disadvantages PWDs
and other communities face. This, he explained
while speaking at the Jamaica Inclusive
Education Conference held last year, would
be done by developing an environment that
does not encourage any form of exclusion of
such individuals.

However, the Act is yet come into effect after
10 years of deliberations, 14 amendments, and
receiving bipartisan report.

“This progressive piece of legislation actually
delivers on the promise … to put effective
measures in place that will assist greatly, going
forward, in lifting members of the disabled
community upwards,” the former Minister
claimed.

“If the Act comes into effect and there is no
institution for redress of discrimination, then it
[will] further frustrate persons with disabilities
(PWDs). Work is going on as we speak to ensure
that this tribunal is established and the Jamaica
Council for Persons with Disabilities ( JCPD) is

Christine Hendricks, executive director at the
JCPD said, the Act has not been implemented
because the Disabilities Rights Tribunal - as
is to be established by the Act - has not been
realised but plans were ‘progressing’.

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