Process Under Way To Establish Disabilities Council As Corporate Body

Interim Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Dr. Christine Hendricks, says the process has started to establish the Council as a corporate body.

The transition is part of provisions under the Disabilities Act, which came into effect on February 14, 2022.

The important piece of legislation is designed to protect and promote the equal rights of the disabled and prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs).

As a corporate body, the Council will have greater power and autonomy in carrying out its mandate in supporting and advocating on behalf of the disabled community, including acting on cases of discrimination.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on March 3, Dr. Hendricks explained that under the Act, the new JCPD will be managed by a board, which will be responsible for drafting policies and will report to the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda. As a statutory body, JCPD will be able to hire its own staff and be responsible for its finances.

The new entity will also be able to carry out research and develop codes of practice to address discrimination against PWDs and will have the authority to investigate such complaints.

Under the Act, a Disability Rights Tribunal will be established to adjudicate matters that aggrieved persons may take to the JCPD. More than ,72 persons will be employed to the new JCPD, and Dr. Hendricks informed that 10 of the posts have been advertised including that of Executive Director.

An office located at 10 Ripon Road, Kingston, is now being retrofitted to accommodate the JCPD’s new offices.

The Disabilities Act aims to ensure the full and effective participation of and inclusion of PWDs in the society, and it is in keeping with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which Jamaica is party.