Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) Commends Tourism Ministry

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Christine Hendricks, is lauding the Tourism Ministry for enabling access to some of the island’s best beaches by the physically challenged.

Mrs. Hendricks noted that retrofitting the Boston Beach in Portland with wheelchair ramps and international standard design for bathroom fixtures as part of the Ministry’s National Beach Development Programme, is commendable.

“We want to ensure that the person using a wheelchair will be independent or even if they have assistance, it is not laboured assistance,” she said in a JIS News interview.

Mrs. Hendricks informed that wheelchair-assisted persons were sent to assess the Boston Beach facility where it was observed that “minor fixes” were needed to properly accommodate the physically challenged.  She said that she was given assurance that these would be rectified.

The Executive Director emphasised that providing access for persons living with disabilities in the tourism industry is extremely important, as these persons with disposable income want to travel and to be able to come to Jamaica.

This would ultimately benefit Jamaica’s economy, she noted.

The Beach Development Programme aims to transform at least one beach in every parish into a quality recreational space for residents and visitors alike.

The programme is being funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) at a cost of $250 million.