‘We Will Leave No One Behind’

Salutations

• Honourable Phillip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas
• Honourable Obediah Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly

Good afternoon.

I am delighted to join you exactly 30 years and one day after the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). 

This proclamation reflected our global commitment to advancing the dignity, rights, and well-being of Persons with Disabilities. This promise, made years ago, is even more pressing today, with over one billion persons globally experiencing disability, of which, 80% reside in developing countries.

These are the same developing countries, like ours, navigating the impacts COVID-19, Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Food Insecurity and even Crime.

In times of these humanitarian crises, Persons with Disabilities are often hardest hit.

Pervasive issues such as Ableism, stigma, and discrimination …
Policies & Legislation which do not enshrine the rights of the community…
Limited employment opportunities….
Limited Access to social services, derails the equitable development of the PwD community.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Disability Inclusion is a development issue. 
It demands our continued attention and investment to realize our commitment to Leave No One Behind.

Now Imagine with me, if you will, a world that is inclusive for all, inclusive for PwDs.
Imagine then, how many more Stephen Hawking’s would be among us, transforming our understanding of the universe. Imagine how many Stevie Wonders, Blake Higgs, Erin Browns, our Accessibility Ambassadors – Vashni Thompson and Michael Miller shifting the landscape of music, arts and sports.

Access and utilization of Digital technologies is a means through which we can foster inclusion. 
It is a gateway to realizing the theme of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD):
“Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”

Digital technology & Innovation, ladies and gentlemen is the great equalizer! 

This is why, UNDP supports the Government of The Bahamas in your mission to expand digital inclusion to marginalized groups. 

UNDP’s Digital Access for All (DAFA) Bahamas Project was specifically designed with the Government to expand your efforts to ensure PwD are not left behind in our development efforts. 

With a very modest investment, we supported the expansion of the AccessAbility Bahamas Mobile App and a public education programme to increase awareness, downloads, and usage. 

I am particularly pleased that the App offers groundbreaking features such as access to subsidized transportation, disaster alerts, job opportunities, and other social benefits. 

I urge Persons with disabilities to use the App and to register with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to ensure you and your families benefit from their wide array of services.

Our Digital Access for All project is a modest start. There is still so much left to do to enhance inclusion and participation of the PwD community.