Speaker honours all
Recognition of hardworking and industrious individuals
I’AM happy to see the continuation and incremental progress of the National Disability Awards. It has certainly become part of the mainstream of national awards that seek to recognise the contribution of persons with disabilities to their community and to nation-building.
I must say that the awards is not only a recognition of hardworking and industrious individuals, but it also honours all persons living with disabilities for their contribution to their respective areas of work whether in employment or in voluntary community work.
We all know that the past year has been difficult for our country. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have greatly affected Fiji, in particular our vulnerable communities. In addition, we have had to face three tropical cyclones that have devastated the lives of many of our people.
In this regard, I would like to personally thank all persons with disabilities and those dedicated individuals in the sector for your contributions to our society over the past year. It has been hard, but you have stood up to the challenge and ensured that the needs of your community are not hampered by disease or cyclones.
As Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, I wish to reassure all of you that Parliament encourages and supports the participation and contribution of persons living with disabilities in its legislative and oversight process.
This is part of Parliament’s initiative to ensure that all Fijians, irrespective of their ability or disability, socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity, or religion are free to participate in parliamentary democracy.
As many of you would recall, Parliament had passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act a couple of years ago to make provisions for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in accordance with the United Nations convention on the rights of the persons with disabilities. The Act also puts into law the rights of persons with disabilities as specifically provided for under section 42 of the constitution.
Which says quote “rights of persons with disabilities:
42. - (1) a person with any disability has the right –
(a) to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information;
(b) to use sign language, braille or other appropriate means of communication; and
(c) to reasonable access to necessary materials, substances and devices relating to the person’s disability.
(2) a person with any disability has the right to reasonable adaption of buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, working arrangements, rules, practices or procedures, to enable their full participation in society and the effective realisation of their rights.
(3) to the extent that it is necessary, a law or an administrative action taken under a law may limit, or may authorise the limitation of, the rights set out in this section” unquote.
Parliament is also ensuring that its premises cater for the needs of persons with disabilities.
The doorways to the house chamber and committee rooms have ramps for wheelchair access and there is elevator access to the parliamentary premises. The parliament secretariat has worked hard to ensure that policies and practices are in place to accommodate the needs of persons living with disabilities when they visit Parliament or participate in its many processes.
In 2017 Parliament set a trend by introducing sign-language interpretation services for its televised sittings. The television stations and other institutions are now following this trend with the use of sign-language interpreters to assist those who are hearing impaired.
In addition, through our membership of the Commonwealth Parliament Association (CPA) we have started our engagement with the Commonwealth Parliamentarians With Disabilities (CPwD).
CPwD supports elected representatives with disabilities in parliaments and legislatures across the Commonwealth and to ensure that the issues of persons with disabilities are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation. The network campaigns for equality for persons with disabilities in all spheres.
We are proud that the honourable Viam Pillay, chair of the social affairs committee was recently appointed the regional disability champion for the CPA Pacific region.
As the regional disability champion for the Pacific region, we will be a leading voice within the CPA on disability issues. Hon. Pillay will be working with parliamentary colleagues from across the commonwealth to advise on, and advance the rights of disabled persons.
I certainly look forward to the Fiji network of persons living with disabilities engaging with Hon. Pillay and other parliamentarians to advance this cause.
These are just a few of the initiatives that Parliament has taken to mainstream disability issues into its work. And I sincerely look forward to working with many of you to make this endeavour a success.