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  • 1 day ago

There is a call for the government to bring comprehensive legislation for the disabled population to the Parliament within one-year.

The call comes from a motion put forward by Independent Senator Alicia Lalite-Ettienne, who is of the view that mere policy documents are not enough to address this vulnerable segment of society.

Alicia Boucher has more in this report.


Transcript
00:00For different reasons, including a rise in non-communicable diseases and aging, the population living with disabilities is growing.
00:08There are no updated statistics relative to this country to say what exactly is the size of that population,
00:15but a 2011 Central Statistical Office report placed that figure at over 52,200 people at that time.
00:24Independent Senator Alicia Lalit Etienne, who has a visual impairment, says,
00:28despite a country having 63 years of independence and 49 years as a republic,
00:34there is still no specific legislation to ensure that people with disabilities are treated with equality.
00:41This is her plea to the government through her motion in the Senate based on what she says is the reality of people with disabilities.
00:48And discrimination and ill-treatment of individuals, citizens, family members, the system, the broken system for us, services,
01:02we need a legislation to protect us from discrimination, because just remember,
01:09this disability in a blink of an eye could happen to you.
01:16The motion, which was read out by Senate President Wade Mark,
01:20calls for the tabling of a comprehensive national strategic plan in Parliament within the next 12 months,
01:26inclusive of a legislative framework to treat with those issues.
01:30Lalit Etienne tells the government to look at the report from the investigation
01:34The Equal Opportunities Act and the Constitution, she states, are so broad that disabled people continue to be hindered in various aspects,
01:57including social inclusion, health and safety, finance, and structural.
02:01She notes that in 2015, under Prime Minister Kamala Prasad-Bissassup,
02:06TNT ratified the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
02:12There is also the 2019 national policy on persons with disabilities.
02:17I view a policy, this national policy, like a dog with no teeth.
02:27It would rush you, but it cannot bite.
02:33And when you don't have legislation to protect someone from discrimination,
02:39here is where you have people being discriminated and entreated.
02:44When it comes to what the legislation should entail,
02:48the senator notes the paramount importance of those who are affected having the most say.
02:54We no longer want to be left behind.
02:57We no longer want to be treated in a way whereby people give us what they feel to give us,
03:05or they think what is best for us.
03:09We know what is best for us.
03:11Lalit Atiyan expresses a belief that treating with these issues
03:15is in the heart of Prime Minister Kamala Prasad-Bissassup,
03:18based on her previous statements.
03:20And now, words need to be put into action.
03:30I, Senator Atiyan, beg to move.
03:35Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
03:37Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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