The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has thrown its full support behind the 2025 Caribbean Disability Conference, underscoring its commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education for persons with disabilities.
The conference, which is being held under the theme, Breaking Barriers: Advancing Inclusive Education for All Abilities, seeks to promote sustainable development and social transformation in the region.
Delivering remarks at the second annual conference, the CDB’s vice-president of Operations, Dr Isaac Solomon, said the institution remains resolute in its mission to promote inclusivity.
“The CDB is acting with conviction that it is our duty to stand with you and use our collective power to make societies more inclusive and to have more equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Emphasising that progress can only be achieved through collaboration and genuine inclusion, he stated, “We can’t do this without focusing on creating an inclusive Caribbean society where persons with disabilities are fully integrated and empowered.”
Reflecting on the momentum gained since the inaugural conference in Grenada and the recent Global Disability Summit in Berlin, Dr Solomon said these engagements were vital to advancing equity.
“It is part of the transformative journey to creating a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities, encouraging conversations and sharing stories, dispelling myths and misconceptions, committing to policy changes and supporting powerful interventions that drive those changes,” he explained.
However, Dr Solomon acknowledged that despite the strides made, persons with disabilities in the region still faced significant challenges.
“As a society, we must all honestly face up to those persistent challenges, social barriers, gaps in knowledge, legislation, limited access to digital technologies, and other areas that stymie progress on disability-inclusive development,” he cautioned.
Dr Solomon highlighted the CDB’s investments in education and training as evidence of its long-term commitment.
“CDB’s significant investment in inclusive education and training institutions, human resource development, and capacity building throughout the region are our testament to increasing access to quality education and training for persons with disabilities.
“As a regional institution, we acknowledge the significant contributions and advocacy of organisations of persons with disabilities towards the development of our region,” Dr Solomon said.
Praising the ongoing efforts of Caribbean governments, Dr Solomon added, “We also salute the investments and efforts of regional governments in adopting legislation, policies and strategies, and creating an enabling environment for persons with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman agreed that the theme for the event was timely.
He maintained that Barbados was focused on providing quality education for persons from all walks of life.
“Here in Barbados and across the region education continues to be of significant premium to the development of our people, our growth, our development, and our prospects as a region.
“We have set a very bold agenda here in Barbados, that in seven years, we want Barbados to have the number one educational system anywhere in the world,” Blackman said.
“The government has spent significant resources, both in terms of its financing and technical and other capacity-building tools, to ensure that our teachers have the necessary resources at their fingertips, so as to ensure what is the best pedagogy in the 21st century reality, to make sure that we can offer our students inclusive education, that is fit for purpose, that is modern, and that will carry them beyond where they now are today.”
Additionally, he said the ministry had taken the decision to ensure that they give students a global head start with the introduction of chess in schools to foster critical thinking skills. (STT)
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