The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) has spoken out about the absence of accessible features on highway walkovers.
In an interview with St. Lucia Times, Merphilus James, President of the NCPD, highlighted the urgent need for designs that accommodate people with disabilities.
James recalled that a few years ago, the NCPD had discussed including ramps and other accessible features in the walkovers.
However, he said a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) representative cited space constraints as the reason for not incorporating those features.
Nevertheless, James said the NCPD did not accept the excuse.
“It is not acceptable, certainly not,” he said. “When infrastructure like that is being done, it must adhere to universal design principles, which cater to not just persons with disabilities, but to the elderly, to mothers with children in strollers, to people who have a temporary impairment due to a stroke or accident – all these persons should be able to easily utilise this.”
According to James, NCPD members have had to use costly and uncomfortable alternatives to navigate around and get to their destinations.
He pointed to the infrastructure of neighboring islands like Antigua and Barbuda and Trinidad and Tobago, which have successfully incorporated inclusive features.
“If not elevators, ramps are built into them, with the correct gradient. And even if they take some various turns, they make creative use of the space, which allows wheelchair users to utilize them- and that is the kind of design that we encourage, where everyone gets an equal chance of moving around and integrating into society. But this design limits a lot of our members,” the NCPD President told St. Lucia Times.
James would like a reassessment of the current walkover designs or an investment in more inclusive infrastructure in Saint Lucia.
He hopes future projects will better accommodate all community members and ensure equal access.
That walkover needs renovation anyways. You could feel it shaking when you walk sometimes.
The broken up sidewalks are not accessible for persons with disabilities either. In fact, not even suitable for able-bodied people. Obstacle courses at best, under-reported life-changing injuries galore.
There are lots of people in this world who suffer from Vertigo – (dizziness, imbalance, fear of hights) that is more common than anyone thinks. That Structure is ten times more expensive to erect than a simple erection of Traffic lights. Must anyone need to tell you so, Mr. Bigshot?
I just wanna say that the bridges with the new giant Painting of Lucian flag and male and women painting goin to cul de sac are AmaZING, truely the artist deserves serious recognition!,,…., looking forward to seeing the finished painting and deh road!…..speaking of which I think the artist of the bum bum wall should have had more time and daytime painting… On Another and next ting is why don’t you sell advertisements govt and have companies have some kind of write off for advertisements and have them freshly painted all over the city and island giving painting jobs to the youth? …On a next note..can someone please remove the giant poster of Richard Frederick next to Julian Alfred’s fresh painting in new vending area right deh Castries SMH….i
The walkovers are in a deplorable condition. No wonder some people are scared to use them. Rusty, cracked, nasty. No maintenance done. When was the last time one of these politicians used a walkover?
Ummm duhh! Of course it is inaccessible to disabled. Should of thought about that when it was constructed
Replying to lin. Especially the minister for disabilities.
Good day all. The cross overs need repairs, they are rusting and that makes it more terrifying to use for those of us who are afraid of heights, as said before it shakes especially the one at Choc. Persons with disabilities have to struggle in this country not only with this issue. There is also the issue with getting around Gros Islet bus drivers don’t stop for persons in wheel chairs. That is my experience. I don’t know if has been experienced elsewhere.
An accident waiting to Happen with the crossover.
They can take a bus stop at a busstop near a pedestrian crossing and figure the rest out. Lucian like to complain too much. Smh. There are different ways to skin a cat