The Tribune

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY one month since the deadline passed for all buildings to be made easily accessible to persons with disabilities, the business community seems to be scrambling to comply with the law despite having nearly two years to do so.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Peter Goudie, a former Persons with Disabilities Commission representative, said the vast majority of businesses in the country have no in-depth knowledge of disability laws or that they even exist.

He further raised concerns that work in this regard could be in limbo as a new commission has not been appointed since the last group's term ended in December.

Mr Goudie, who represented the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce on the commission, said the strides they made could be "dead on the vine" without the push of an active commission.

This follows a special report in The Tribune last month, which explored the plight of three persons with disabilities as they carried out their daily lives.

At the time, they complained about facing widespread challenges ranging from public sensitivity to many public places failing to make the necessary changes to accommodate their needs.

They said it has been disappointing to find there remains a great deal of places around the country, particularly in the capital, that have not taken the December 31, 2017, deadline seriously.

"I hate to say it this way, but I bet you a vast majority of businesses, despite all of the advertising that we've done and we've done advertising through the chamber's newsletter to businesses, I would like to bet that probably more than 50 per cent of businesses in this country don't have a clue there's a disabilities bill," Mr Goudie said when he was contacted yesterday.

"I have confronted people in places like Harbour Bay and say 'why are you parking in the disabled (spot)?' and they'll curse me out like I was evil. So we have a huge education gap on disabilities in this country.

"And we've been trying very hard through newspaper (and) TV. The best way to get to businesses is the chamber, but I don't think people are really paying attention and it's difficult

"Unfortunately, the term of the first Disabilities Commission came due in December and the new commission has not been appointed yet. So the problem is there is nobody to push it.

"I haven't been reappointed yet and that's a big concern of mine. We were making big strides, but unless we are there to keep pushing it, it's going to die on the vine."

A statement from the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, which has oversight of compliance issues, said there have been requests for an extension of the deadline. However, officials said this is not preferable and requests for extensions have been responded to on a case-by-case basis.

Speaking on this aspect, Mr Goudie said there should be no excuse to extend the deadline.

"It's been in there for a two-year grace period. But we do have the right at the moment to give a business a grace period if they come to us. If they come to us I am sure we are going to be understanding and say, 'well when can you do it?' We want to get things done. You don't want to sit there and fine people and be mean. We just want to get something done and make people aware because it's awful."

The ministry noted that some businesses don't have the finances needed to make the upgrades, adding that others have to consider the structural integrity of the buildings which house them.

"The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities), Act 2014 and its provisions are largely monitored by the Disabilities Commission, a board appointed by the Cabinet under the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development," the ministry said in a statement last week.

"The commission recognises that the date for enforcement with respect to the Disabilities Act was December 31, 2017.

"The public and all persons and businesses affected have been given two years to become compliant with the provisions of the act, from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. The implementation of such measures require financial adjustments, in addition to engineering and structural arrangements.

"Given that backdrop, it is the commission's considered position that a widespread extension is not preferable. However, there has been requests for extensions which have been responded to on a case-by-case basis."

The statement continued: "While not all government or private buildings are compliant to date, we have noticed that private businesses and government building operators have been making considerable efforts to ensure their buildings are accessible as required by law. "The current challenges include the ability of proprietors to make the necessary investments in the physical upgrade of premises, in addition to the difficulty with older building structures challenged with spacing and otherwise to make the necessary accommodations.

"The commission on behalf of the ministry will facilitate the enforcement of the act for and on behalf of members of the disabled community. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the disabled are enabled to obtain equal access and opportunities to function effectively in the society."