Prime Minister Gaston Browne
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has moved to strengthen inclusion for persons living with disabilities by mandating representation within the nation’s taxi associations and ordering accessibility upgrades at the cruise port.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced the decision after concerns were raised that a member of the disability community had reportedly lost his job as a taxi operator due to his disability.
Under the new directive, taxi associations will be required to create space within their leadership or governance structures for representatives of the disability association—potentially two members—to ensure their voices are formally included in decision-making.
The Prime Minister has instructed Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, to formally notify the Taxi Association of the government’s position and the steps to be taken to implement the mandate.
In addition to representation, Prime Minister Browne also ordered the installation of proper wheelchair-accessible ramps at the cruise port, aimed at improving mobility and access for persons living with disabilities.
The measures form part of the government’s broader commitment to equality, inclusion, and the protection of employment opportunities for all citizens, particularly within key sectors such as tourism and transportation.
Hope this doesn’t stop at the cruise port. St. John’s city still has major accessibility issues
I really hope this was not just talk and something in fact came out of the consultation because we can see that Bernard Warner was very passionate about that. There are several disabled people who come here on cruises.
Who better to advise on serving persons with disabilities than persons living with disabilities themselves?
You can imagine how empowering it must feel for members of the disabled community to know they’ll have a seat at the table.
If tourism is our bread and butter, accessibility should be non-negotiable. This is a good move