The government has dedicated over half a million dollars to ensuring Barbados is accessible to all of its citizens, starting with Bridgetown, Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn revealed in this year’s Budget.
The improvements coming to the island’s capital, include those “specifically designed to improve mobility and independence for persons with disabilities”, he told the House of Assembly.
Work would also be done to establish a fully accessible pedestrian pathway, which would link key sections of the city from Elsie Payne Roundabout to Prescod Boulevard, Lower Broad Street, Broad Street and Bridge Street, with extensions into adjoining corridors.
“This project will rehabilitate sidewalks, install curb ramps, tactile paving and accessible crossings, and remove the physical barriers that currently prevent many persons with disabilities from moving safely through the capital,” Straughn explained.
“This initiative reflects the government’s firm commitment to building a Barbados in which every citizen can move with dignity and independence. Too often, persons with disabilities are effectively excluded from our public spaces by infrastructure that was never designed with them in mind.
“This pilot will establish modern accessibility standards for Bridgetown and create a model that can be expanded across the country at an estimated cost of $600 000. This investment affirms a simple but powerful principle: a modern Barbados must be accessible to all of its people.”
From April 1, all recipients of the special needs grant will receive $100 monthly for 12 months, he announced.
A special needs trust framework would also be introduced to allow families to set aside assets for the long-term care and financial security of persons with disabilities.
“It will exempt trust income and distributions used for the care of disabled persons from personal income tax. It will clarify the tax treatment of trustees administering such trusts and supports the objective of the National Disability Policy.
“This reform will provide long-term financial security for vulnerable citizens, whilst having minimal fiscal impact on the government’s revenue.”
Outlining that $450 000 had been allocated for an adaptive aquatics programme to facilitate children and adults with disabilities, he said that funding was also being provided for the National Sports Council to create Olympic-sized swimming pools in St Philip and Holetown.
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