THE National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities commemorated its thirty fifth anniversary with a special church service held last Sunday at St. Michael’s Parish, La Ressource, Dennery.
In attendance were representatives of the disabled community from around the island who participated in parts of the service and were warmly welcomed by local parishioners.
In his remarks to the church community, NCPD President Merphilus James urged persons to show greater compassion to persons with disabilities in an age where accidents, amputations, illness and even violence render able bodied people disabled in a matter of seconds.
Also in attendance at this celebration service was the Cuban Ambassador to Saint Lucia, Jorge Soberon who has pledged his government’s support to improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Saint Lucia. In July, Ambassador Soberon facilitated his government’s donation of food items to Camp La Jwa, an annual camp for children with disabilities hosted by the NCPD.
The Council continues to organise training workshops, distribute food commodities and mobility aids to its members throughout the year and to advocate for greater access to resources and assistance for all persons with disabilities.
The Council now operates a prostectic limp workshop at the southern office which was funded by Australian Aid. It is looking to expand this to the north of the island sometime and hopes to include the maintainance and building of mobility aids to better assist persons with disabilities.