By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

DIRECTOR of Social Services Aneita Duncombe believes motorists who illegally use parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities should face fines of up to $1,500 — six times the penalty proposed in amendments to the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act.

Ms Duncombe said the proposed $250 fine does not go far enough and argued that a much steeper penalty is needed to deter motorists from abusing spaces set aside for people with disabilities.

“The parking spaces have always been a pet peeve for me,” Ms Duncombe said. “I don't know why people do it who are not disabled park in spots that are designated for disabled persons, right?”

She said that if the decision were hers, the fine would be between $1,000 and $1,500.

“I would have gone as far as between $1000 and $1500 to send a message that this is the law when it comes to persons with disabilities,” she said, “and if you're going to take advantage of them, if only by using their parking space, you can have harsh penal fees so that you don't do it again.”

Her comments come as proposed amendments to the 2014 Act seek to strengthen protections for people with disabilities in areas including employment, abuse and access to public buildings.

But Ms Duncombe warned that tougher laws and penalties would mean little without people assigned to enforce them.

“Get a decal if you need to park in a disabled space,” she said. “My challenge is that if we could have someone to police it, we will be good.”

She said enforcement remained a persistent weakness even where laws already exist to protect vulnerable people.

“We can have all sorts of laws on the books to protect the most vulnerable among us,” Ms Duncombe said, “and if we don't have the manpower, and if we don't have the people assigned to police those laws, then we'll be right back to where we started.”

The proposed legislation would also impose new employment requirements on larger employers. Businesses with at least 50 workers would be required to employ at least one qualified person with a disability for every 50 employees.

Ms Duncombe welcomed the proposal, saying a disability should not prevent a qualified person from being employed if they can perform the work.

“Whether you're disabled or not,” she said, “once you're able to do the work, you shouldn't be discriminated against if you're able to do the work.”

The Department of Social Services has a disability unit, which has been merged with its senior citizen unit and is headed by an assistant director.

Ms Duncombe, who recently took up the director’s post, said she is still assessing both units. She said the department already employs people with disabilities and makes accommodations for them.

The proposed amendments would also make abuse of a person with a disability a specific offence, covering physical, sexual, psychological, emotional and financial harm as well as exploitation, neglect and abandonment.

They would require greater accessibility in public buildings and increase several penalties for breaches of the law.

The Bill would also strengthen protections for employees who acquire disabilities after being hired.

Under another provision, the Department of Labour would be required to work with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to maintain records of people with disabilities, including information about their skills and training, to assist with job placement.

Ms Duncombe also welcomed provisions aimed at protecting senior citizens, particularly those dealing with power of attorney.

Public consultation on the proposed amendments has ended.