Wed | Jun 26, 2024

No building approvals without disabled access, says MoBay mayor

Published:Friday | May 24, 2024 | 9:06 AM
Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, Richard Vernon (right), and Commanding Officer for the second battalion, Jamaica Regiment, Jamaica Defence Force, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Lysight, paint disabled parking spaces at a car park at the intersection of Creek Street and St Clavers Avenue in Montego Bay. The work was part of the Labour Day parish project on May 23. - Contributed photo.

The St James Municipal Corporation will not be approving plans for public buildings that do not include access for members of the disabled community, says Montego Bay Mayor, Councillor Richard Verron.

The move is in keeping with the Disabilities Act, 2014, which provides that public buildings should be outfitted with the requisite amenities to enable easy access by disabled persons.

“We have been actively supporting persons with disabilities by ensuring that through our approvals processes that we have a keen eye for access to public buildings. We will not approve public buildings unless they have the necessary access for persons with disabilities, ” Vernon said.

He was speaking to JIS News during Labour Day activities in Montego Bay on Thursday where work was focused on transforming the Second City into a disabled-friendly environment under the theme 'Ramp up di access... show that you care'.

The parish projects entailed the marking of free disabled parking spaces at public car parks throughout the town and constructing a fully paved ramp leading into the Pye River cemetery and extensive cleanup of the burial ground.

Vernon, who led the workday, said that the activities were aimed at addressing some of the challenges disabled persons face when moving around the city.

“So, once we have these [parking areas] demarcated, persons who are able-bodied should not be utilising them, and persons with disabilities, once they enter a car park it will be easier for them to access a parking spot,” he pointed out.

To access the spaces, persons with disabilities will be required to present identification (ID) to show that they are registered with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD).

President of the Montego Jamaica Society for the Blind and Vice President of the Cornwall Combined Disabilities Association, Robert Blake, welcomed the focus on the disabled community for Labour Day through the provision of designated parking spaces and building of ramps.

“It will improve accessibility in every way… persons with disabilities are able to park free but, best of all, some buildings and facilities will now have their own ramps so that we're able to access the services that they provide,” he noted.

“We want to thank each and every one that is doing their part to remember us as persons living with disabilities… . I'm very excited and I really commend them,” he added.

- JIS News

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