Browne: Don’t shut away specially challenged persons

The needs of this country’s disabled citizens were discussed at an open forum held recently.

The second Annual National Conference for the Specially Challenged took place on Tuesday August 14th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room.{{more}} The conference, which carried the theme “Strategic planning for persons with disabilities,” brought together representatives of the National Society of Persons with Disabilities and other organizations operating on behalf of specially challenged persons.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Minister of National Mobilization, Mike Browne stated that the specially challenged should be “mainstreamed” into society and should not be shut away. He added that policy makers should recognize their needs and measures must be taken to assist them. “Things that were not in place would have to be put in place,” he stated.

He stated that is was “high time” that a desk be dedicated to the specially challenged, however serious administrative adjustments would be needed for its success.

Browne also made an appeal to the media not to focus only on the problems and issues of the specially challenged but to promote the positive contributions they have made to the society. He also called on organizations working with the specially challenged to “ban themselves together” to achieve better results as “no government can ignore such a powerful voice.”

President of the National Society of Persons with Disabilities, Patrice Cumberbatch stated that over the years, her organization, working along with others has been “striving and advocating for the needs” of the specially challenged and also for the equality of the specially challenged.

Cumberbatch also noted that attention must be paid to organizing measures to remove discrimitation and victimization of the specially challenged.

The one-day conference, which was described as an “indication of commitment and support of disabled persons” included various activities as well as an open forum to discuss the needs of the specially challenged.(OS)