Two government lawmakers have made a strong call for a more inclusive Barbados, advocating a series of reforms designed to empower persons with disabilities, including affirmative action in the workplace.Addressing a resolution on a national policy aimed at improving the lives of the disabled, St James North MP Edmund Hinkson and Christ Church East Central MP Ryan Straughn underscored the pressing need for reform across employment, education, healthcare, justice, and infrastructure to enhance the quality of life for disabled persons and create an inclusive society with equal access and opportunity for all.Hinkson, who chaired the Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, praised the government’s ongoing commitment to the disabled community. He referred to the new 2023–2030 policy document as a comprehensive roadmap for achieving inclusivity in Barbados. This framework, he explained, outlines both immediate and long-term goals to remove barriers and expand opportunities for persons with disabilities.“Barbados must be a place that respects and values all its citizens,” Hinkson declared. “This means addressing and removing the obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from living independently and fully participating in our society.”
