September 8th 2022
National Social Protection Policy focuses on the differently-abled
by Jacques Hinkson-Compton, GIS
UPDATED SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY TO INCREASE BENEFITS FOR DISABLED.
A redesign of the National Social Protection Policy now includes more support for disabled Saint Lucians. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the policy’s development.
Policy and Program Officer, Eulampius Frederick, details the catalyst for the policy’s composition.
“The Hon. Minister Joachim Henry felt inspired by the work of an agency in the region by the name of Mustard Seed Community. They established a residential home for persons with long term disabilities, and chronic disabilities, who do not receive support from their own families.
So they have built this community that was actually established by the Roman Catholic Church. It is run by a group of persons that provide specialized care to these individuals. Recently Dr. Delaire and the minister did a study tour to Jamaica which is the headquarters of that organization and they returned to Saint Lucia to see how can something to that effect be implemented on island.”
Efforts to accumulate data on the disabled include consultations with NGOs, faith-based organisations, and focus groups. Research on disability assessments have also been conducted by the Caribbean Development Bank.
“The survey instrument administered to get a feel of the number of persons on island with disabilities used a sample population of roughly 4300 persons islandwide; and from that projections were made.
Senator Morris from Jamaica also prepared a report for the disability ranking for the different islands. Saint Lucia ranked five out of 10, and so it was necessary to look at various aspects of infrastructure in place for persons with disabilities, access to concessions with other allowances, and other indicators.”
The new policy will place extra focus on gender and disability.
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