BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –- AS more small to medium size business establishments enter the local market, not many of them are catering for differently-abled to enter their premises.
This is the view of some differently-abled individuals, who said that they are unhappy with the way business establishments are set up, adding that most do not allow wheelchair-bound individuals to carry out their daily business activities without the assistance of others.
Spot checks by this media house revealed that several large business entities in downtown Basseterre do not have ramps in place to assist these individuals.
This agency understands that this has to do with the Federation’s Building Codes.
In a recent interview with SKNVibes, President of the Disability Association, Anthony Mills explained that most of the Building Codes within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis do not cater for ramps and opined that they (Building Codes) need to be revised.
He explained too that it is not only the access to buildings, but also free movement around the island that is a constraint.
He stressed that this has been a long-standing problem for wheelchair-bound individuals and some other differently-abled persons.
“A lot is left to be desired when it comes to that. I think what is going to change that is when we are going to get the Building Codes changed; and that is something we are working on. When someone is putting up a new building they must make it accessible to differently-abled persons.
“It’s going to take changes in continual education, it’s going to take changes in policies to get us there, and it going to take changes to the Building Codes,” Mills said.
He revealed that his association is working to have the Building Codes revised, since that is where the root of the problem lies.
“Most of the Building Codes do not cater for ramps for wheel chaired persons to roll up”, he added.
He noted that several institutions, including, banks and major enterprises, have been delinquent in this case.
Mills expounded on the fact that persons not only need to have easy access to buildings but also to information.
Another individual who at times finds it difficult to access these entities is popular businessman Curtis Matthew.
Matthew stated that it is a shame for businesses not to have ramps and other differently-abled assistance initiatives in place within St Kitts, since the island is pushing its tourism drive.
“Nobody is looking out for people with disability! Even when you enter a place with wheelchair accessibility, they keep you in there for very long periods when they are not supposed to,” Matthew said.
