The Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) is requesting a seat at the table as the government moves ahead with a $750 000 project aimed at making Bridgetown more accessible.
The initiative, expected to get under way before the end of the year, will focus on improving mobility for persons with disabilities, with additional funding expected in future Estimates.
While Minister of Transport and Works Kirk Humphrey said the project is intended to improve mobility and access throughout the capital, Executive Operations Manager of the Barbados Council for the Disabled Roseanna Tudor cautioned that the improvements could proceed without meaningful input from the very people they are designed to benefit.
Minister of Transport and Works Kirk Humphrey. (Photo Credit: BT)
Humphrey said the commitment to improving accessibility dates back to his tenure as Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs when the government decided to retrofit buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities.
“We decided to do two things. One was to retrofit all the buildings in Bridgetown and outside of Bridgetown to accommodate persons with disabilities. In fact, that is written into the legislation, which gives people a certain amount of time to retrofit their spaces to accommodate persons with disabilities.”
After taking responsibility for the Ministry of Transport and Works, Humphrey said funding was allocated to make Bridgetown accessible from the bottom of the city to the beach along Bay Street.
“We included the project in the Budget, with the Prime Minister announcing during the budget presentation that Bridgetown would be made accessible… Funds were allocated for the work, and we are now in the process of securing a contractor.”
However, Tudor said the group has consistently maintained that persons with disabilities must be involved in planning and designing accessibility projects from the outset.
“We have consistently supported initiatives aimed at improving accessibility and mobility within our capital. However, as far back as March 17, 2026, the council publicly welcomed the proposed initiatives while emphasising that persons with disabilities must have a seat at the table in determining how these improvements are designed and implemented.”
She said the group was particularly interested in ensuring the plans included continuous accessible pedestrian pathways, safe crossings, appropriate kerb ramps and tactile guidance, as well as accessible connections between Bridgetown Port, public transport and essential services within the city.
Despite formally seeking involvement in consultations, she said they had yet to be invited to participate.
“We are, therefore, concerned that the project may be approaching implementation without the meaningful involvement of the very people whose mobility and independence it is intended to improve.”
While Humphrey said the ministry intended to work with the group, Tudor maintained that timely consultation would help eliminate avoidable barriers before construction begins.
“We should not find ourselves identifying barriers after construction has begun when those same barriers could have been prevented through timely consultation.”
She said the group remained willing to contribute its technical expertise and the perspectives of persons with disabilities and hoped the ministry would honour its commitment to consultation before work commenced.
Humphrey said the ministry was also examining the condition of culverts and sidewalks, many of which were in poor condition, stressing that mobility should extend beyond motorists to pedestrians.
Humphrey said additional funding is expected to be included in subsequent estimates as work progresses.
(LG)
