By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Bahamian disabled community packed into the House of Assembly gallery yesterday were overcome with emotion and tears at the historic passing of the long-awaited protective laws.

The Persons with Disabilities - Equal Opportunities Bill makes the Bahamas the second country in the region to write into law the protection of the disabled and will enforce harsh penalties on offenders.

There are more than 10,000 disabled persons in the country.

The Bill makes clear that any person or entity who breaks the clauses outlined concerning employment, discrimination by employers, health care, education, credit and insurance among other things will be subject to a fine up to $5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both. Building owners will have two years to modify their facilities and six months to make changes to parking lots.

Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin said the passing of the Bill was not a panacea, but it was a giant step in the right direction. “The work will just begin,” she said, “but we know that once we continue working together, particularly as we have been doing for the past months, we will continue to get good results.

“The issues of persons with disabilities are not special issues but issues that require special care. It is time that the larger community shares the load. It is time that we create more spaces and develop new partnerships with civil society, with businesses, sporting organisations and faith based community initiatives to provide room for the disabled or ‘differently-abled’ among us to enable them to learn, to grow and thrive.”

According to the Bill no person shall deny a person with a disability equal access to opportunities for suitable employment. A qualified disabled person shall be afforded the same terms and conditions of employment and the same compensation, privileges, fringe benefits, incentives or allowances as qualified able bodied employees.

The Bill will also establish a national commission for the disabled capable of suing and being sued, acquiring, holding and disposing of movable and immovable property. The commission will consist of 15 persons to be appointed by the Minister.

Opposition Members of Parliament fully supported the passing of the Bill. It will move onto the Senate for further debate and approval.

FNM Deputy leader and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner urged the government to consider concessions for the private sector with a view to assisting them in making their facilities disabled friendly.