This Sunday, the public is invited to attend and participate in the Disability Convention and 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Montserrat Disability Association.
The event which will focus on Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality is scheduled to be held at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, December 9th, 2018 starting at 4:30 P.M.
The event is expected to open with a short inspirational film running from 4.20 – 4.45. It is to be chaired by Dr. Clarice Barnes and the opening prayer by Bishop Melroy Meade.
The Hon. Delmaude Ryan, Minister of Health, Education & Community – Disability Champion is to deliver and inspirational message. The reports from the president and treasurer will be presented and the Hon. Speaker of the House Shirley Osborne is to chair the elections for the new board.
The guest speaker for the event is Merphilus James of NCPD Inc, St. Lucia. James is a former Programme Officer and National Volunteer Coordinator in the Office of the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and is Training Officer with the National Skills Development Center (NSDC) where he cherishes his involvement in the education of youth and single mothers in invaluable, marketable technical vocational skills.
Having been born with differences of his right hand and left leg, Merphy started using a prosthetic leg at the age of three. Seeing and feeling firsthand the unique challenges which Persons with Disabilities face on a daily basis, his interest in disability advocacy was ignited. He was elected President of the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD Inc.) in Saint Lucia in January 2015 for a two-year term and was reelected in December 2017. In 2015, he was appointed a World Council member of Disabled Peoples International where he represents North America and The Caribbean Region.
Following a short break, there will be presentations on various themes. Models of Disability: Social & Medical – Dr. Sinclair Coward; Special Education Needs Project – Dr. Gregory Julius; Our Evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee – Craig Brewin; and Equality & Diversity – Nerissa Golden.
All MDA board positions as followed are to be filled: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Youth representative, Men and Women’s Representatives, PR and Campaigns officer, Fundraising officer, and Projects and Partnerships officer.
