PHOTO: (L-R) Min, Saydee-Tarr and a group of People with disabilities
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Liberian government is said to be working out modalities aimed at targeting the provision of disability allowances to people living with disabilities throughout the country shortly.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Willamette Piso Saydee-Tarr, said as a part of the plan, her ministry has been tasked with the responsibility to identify and capture the number of disabled people in the National Identification Registry.
Minister Saydee-Tarr was speaking in Monrovia recently, when Madam Daintowon Pay-Bayee officially took over the gavel authority as the Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities in Congo Town.
But so far, it is not know how regular the planned allowances will be–whether monthly, quarterly or yearly.
According to her, this venture by the government is under the pro poor agenda through the Social Protection Department of Gender Ministry and people living with disabilities all fall under there despite the NCD is an autonomous agency.
Minister Tarr explained that work at the national social registry is currently underway, in order to capture the vulnerable population throughout the country.
“One of the main reasons,” she went on, “ it is intended for the government to capture the vulnerable population whenever any project or other ventures underway so as to have inclusivity whenever it is adopting any policy.”
The Gender Minister said: “At the end of the day, this will enable government to know the location of the vulnerable people , their own abilities and how we can ensure that they are part of the policy or any project.”
She assured the Disabilities Commission that her ministry will continuously work with the team in order to ensure that people living with disabilities benefit from the resources in the country.
Making remarks shortly after she was handed the gavel of authority, the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Commission of Disabilities called for capacity building for people disabilities in order to reduce their dependence on handouts for survival.
Ms. Daintiwon Pay-Bayee
Ms. Daintiwon Pay-Bayee said as long as people with disabilities are empowered, they will subsequently improve their living standards and contribute to the society.
She stressed the need for unity among the disabled community because it is through unity they will be able advocate for their rights and assistance from the government and international partners.
Pay-Bayee thanked President George Weah for appointing her to the head the NCD and assured the disabled community that she will always advocate on their behalf of them.
Earlier, the Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Reverend Fallah Boima, underscored the need for employment of people with disabilities.
According to him, one of the major problems affecting the commission is problem of funding to fully undertake programs in the interest of people living with disabilities.
He assured the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities of the employees’ fullest cooperation with her administration.
The program was witnessed by representatives of the disabled organizations, members of the diplomatic corps and international partners.