Prime Minister Andrew Holness helped in the building of a ramp at the Institute of Jamaica in downtown Kingston on Thursday, as part of Labour Day activities, and emphasised the Government’s commitment to improving access to buildings for the most vulnerable in society, including the poor, elderly, and disabled.

“I totally identify, appreciate, and embrace this theme,” Holness said in reference to the Labour Day theme ‘Ramp up di access… Show that you care’.

“Yes, our Government needs to do more in ensuring that all our people, particularly our poor, elderly, and our vulnerable persons and persons with disabilities, have the ability to access a better quality of life,” he said.

At the same time, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who also participated in the ramp-building at the National Labour Day project, called on the Government to consider making improvements to the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre to accommodate more people suffering from injuries and disabilities.

“There is a need for the expansion of the bed capacity at that institution because it was created in the 50s and 60s, and what has happened is with trauma on the roads, gunshot victims, spinal injuries, people falling out of trees, congenital deformities, and so on, there is constantly a need for space in the institution, and many times people can’t get in because there aren’t sufficient beds. So this is a project I would love to see embraced by the Government to create some additional bed space there,” he said.

Golding also emphasised the importance of prioritising the provision of access to people with disabilities and urged the Government to consider dedicating a year to the improvement of more infrastructure and awareness across Jamaica.

Holness agreed with Golding’s suggestion and promised to discuss a plan of action with representatives from the respective ministries.

“When we talk about access we mean giving them the means by which they are able to access a better life, a better quality of life… we are using our labour today to build these ramps right across Jamaica or do anything else that is improving the community, and we are paying it forward to the generation coming and paying it forward to our elderly, our persons with disabilities, and our vulnerable in honour of those labour leaders and workers who sacrificed during the labour movement of the 1930s, and we do it symbolically at the Institute of Jamaica, the place where much of our history and heritage is protected,” he said.