Businesses urged to be disabled-friendly

State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dr Norman Dunn, has appealed to Jamaican business operators to ensure that their establishments can be easily accessed by members of the disabled community.

The state minister urged business operators to ensure that buildings are outfitted with the appropriate parking areas, ramps, rails, lifts, signage and other mechanisms to ensure accessibility for all persons.

"We are encouraging builders and entrepreneurs that they ensure that this is so, because it is required [by law]. As the physical space continues to open up, we are endeavouring to provide all of the skillsets required, so that we can have a just and civil society. Your establishment must be fit for purpose for the inclusive society that we are building," Dunn said.

He said that increased enforcement of the Disabilities Act 2014 will be undertaken to ensure ease of access to public buildings by persons with disabilities.