Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw has raised concerns about the increasing number of Barbadians acquiring disabilities due to gun violence.
Speaking during the Parliamentary debate on the Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Bill, 2024
yesterday, she highlighted the broader implications of disability in the country and the need for urgent action.
Bradshaw commended the swift introduction of the legislation, following closely after the Government’s disability policy framework.
“This is transformational legislation,” she said. “We are ensuring that people with disabilities have the legal protections and opportunities they deserve.”
However, she drew attention to the growing trend of individuals becoming disabled due to violent crime.
“Perhaps the most recent disability that has been plaguing our country is one caused by gun violence,” Bradshaw stated. “More and more, we are seeing persons – whether the intended victims or unintended victims – succumbing to injuries that leave them permanently disabled.”
She described encounters with individuals whose lives had been irrevocably changed.
“I’ve seen footballers who were shot in the foot, and now they can no longer play or even walk. These are the realities within our communities,” she noted. “It isn’t just the elderly or those born
with physical challenges. It’s young, productive people who are now grappling with life-altering injuries.”
Bradshaw cited a recent incident in her constituency of Golden Rock, where gunfire erupted in a public park.
“This was a place meant to honour lives lost senselessly to violence, yet it became another scene of fear and chaos,” she said. “It hurts to know that innocent people, including the most vulnerable among us, are subjected to this.”
Highlighting the economic and social impact of gun violence, Bradshaw noted that the state often bears the cost of caring for those who are permanently injured.
“We must find ways to support these individuals and their families,” she said. “Their lives have been changed forever and, as a society, we have a responsibility to step up.”
She praised the provisions in the bill aimed at addressing accessibility issues, including retrofitting facilities, acquiring wheelchair-accessible buses and initiating a nationwide sidewalk project.
“These measures are critical,” Bradshaw said. “We must create an environment where people with disabilities can move freely and participate fully in society.” (CLM)
