Persons with Disabilities Encouraged to Develop Skills for Sustainable Livelihoods

Persons with disabilities are being encouraged to seize opportunities to develop skills and secure sustainable livelihoods.

The call was made by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Delroy Chuck, during the Legal Aid Council’s Justice Fair for Persons with Disabilities at Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, on June 12.

“I urge members of the disabled… community to start looking at ways and means you can get some skills or you can use the opportunity to see where you can find a job… because we want to help you but you must also want to help yourself,” he said.

Mr. Chuck noted that skilled workers are in high demand in Jamaica and reminded the audience that the HEART/NSTA Trust offers free tuition for training programmes up to the associate degree/Level Four.

Weekly stipends ranging from $13,500 to $16,500 are available for specific programmes, along with additional transport grants for some participants.

“I’m begging you, members of the disabled community, you too can be a part of it. There’s no age limit. So, if you want a skill, especially our young people, there’s a shortage of masons, shortage of plumbers, shortage of carpenters, shortage of steelmen… [training for] all of these skills is now being provided,” Mr. Chuck said.

Meanwhile, the Minister is urging residents of St. Thomas to take advantage of the parish’s ongoing infrastructural development, emphasising the employment opportunities that will arise from the anticipated “construction boom”.

Additionally, he is encouraging persons with disabilities to explore the many areas in which they can contribute to their households and communities.

“Many of you [have a] smartphone, many of you are on social media. I beg of you, don’t transfer or pass on misinformation. When you see misinformation, condemn it,” Mr. Chuck urged.

He also underscored the problem of domestic violence across the nation, inviting persons with disabilities to report any incidents they become aware of to the police.

“We are also urging you to tell persons who have been abused to go to victim services, to go to restorative justice and see if the relationship can be healed. For the youngsters who have really gotten into trouble, make sure that they go to Child Diversion without ending up in an institution,” the Minister said.

“I’m asking you… to help me so that we can reduce the abuses, the wrongdoings the criminality in our country, because we are determined for us to grow as a nation. Additionally, if anyone of you know of gunmen, tell them to give [the gun] up because if you don’t give up the guns, the police will come for you,” Mr. Chuck further stated.

The Justice Fair for Persons with Disabilities is designed to bring a wide range of services closer to this group.

Alongside the Mobile Justice Unit, the Fair featured approximately 35 booths mounted by various sections of the Ministry and other partner agencies. The staging in Morant Bay marked the 11th Justice Fair held, to date.

Custos Rotulorum for St. Thomas, Hon. Marcia Bennett, emphasised the inclusive nature of the initiative.

“This is all about transformation, [and] transforming our lives so that we do not feel left out. [You] are thought about. [You] have access to every area of justice, education, health, and any other opportunity that the Government provides. You are a part of it,” she said.