The Government of Dominica has announced plans to establish a Department for Persons with Disabilities within the public service, marking what officials describe as a significant step toward improving inclusion, coordination and support for persons living with disabilities.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement during a meeting with the executive of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities (DAPD), where government and association representatives discussed key issues affecting persons with disabilities nationwide.
According to the Prime Minister, the creation of the department will ensure that disability issues receive greater attention at the highest levels of government by providing a dedicated internal advocate to coordinate policy implementation and advance recommendations across ministries.
“We will be creating a department for persons with disabilities within the government system so that there can be an internal advocate who will be able to sit at senior managers’ meetings and follow through on some of those recommendations and actions that need to be taken,” Skerrit said.
The Prime Minister revealed that the new unit is expected to begin with a director and two research assistants. He also indicated that the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities will be invited to advise the government on the appointment of the department’s director to help ensure that the office is led by someone with a genuine commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities.
Skerrit explained that the department’s primary objective will be to integrate disability issues into the work of government rather than treating them as separate or occasional concerns.
“The aim of this department is to mainstream the issues confronting persons with disabilities so that they form part of the substantive agenda,” he stated.
He added that the department will work closely with the DAPD while engaging other public agencies and stakeholders to promote greater accessibility, inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities throughout Dominica.
The Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities, which has represented and advocated for the rights of persons with disabilities since 1983, welcomed the government’s commitment. Officials say the new department has the potential to strengthen support services, improve policy coordination and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are more fully represented in national development planning.
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