Improving accessibility for People with Disabilities is the aim of the Disability Parking Permit. The permit was launched by the Ministry of Works and Transport on Friday at South Park, San Fernando.
The initiative standardizes parking facilities and provides access to a Permit, ensuring easier access to buildings and facilities for those who need it most.
The launch of the Disability Parking Permit initiative is a significant milestone for the Ministry of Works and Transport. Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke said the law defines who qualifies for this service.
“So it defines that person as someone with a long-term permanent disability or clinically recognized by a medical condition and any other disability or debilitating impairment to the extent that the person is unable to move without a wheelchair, walker, crutch and so on.”
Mr. Clarke stressed the importance of adherence to legal specifications for the disabled parking zones, warning that non-compliance could undermine enforcement efforts.
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government and Member of Parliament for San Fernando West, Faris Al-Rawi, called on the private sector to support the initiative by creating more disability parking zones, noting that public advocacy will play a critical role in ensuring compliance.
“We have done our part by having the law which will cause its implementation and enforcement with a consequence. It’s up to the private sector now to ensure that we create enough zones for disability parking and that we enforce it.”
Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan said if a country wants to be progressive no one must be left behind.
“We are hoping that this project could go down to the Ministry of Planning, Town and Country Planning, where we can reach a stage where for planning permission, there must be a portion of your car park designated for the differently abled.”
As it pertains to the disability legislation expected to be introduced to the Parliament, Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Donna Cox said the legislation is complete and will now go to the Legislative Review Committee.
“We are actually awaiting two key recommendations from two key stakeholders. And when we receive that, we will be bringing it to the Parliament. But we want to include what has taken place here today with regards to the legislation, with regards to parking and so on. That must form part of our legislation as well.”
She added that as part of the nation’s commitment to the U.N Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the new parking regulations are a key step towards fulfilling the international obligation of increasing accessibility to public spaces.
Minister Cox said the regulations aim to ease the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities and underscore the Government’s broader vision of building a more just, compassionate, and fair society.