By: Nicholas Bass
The Chairperson of Persons with Disabilities, Mahammed Krubally, has urged stakeholders across government and private sectors to promote inclusivity and ensure equal treatment for persons with disabilities.
In an exclusive interview with The Voice, Principal Magistrate Krubally highlighted the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities: including restricted access to finance, employment, public and private facilities, promotions, and other opportunities. He stresses that disability does not equate to inability and that persons with disabilities possess intelligence, skills, and potential equal to anyone else.
“Persons with disabilities are human beings with inherent dignity, fundamental rights, and freedoms. Being disabled does not define us nor limit our future,” Krubally said. He emphasized that societal and institutional barriers often prevent persons with disabilities from fully realizing their abilities and contributions.
Magistrate Krubally also expressed concern that the domesticated laws protecting persons with disabilities, enacted in 2021, remained largely unimplemented. “The letter and the spirit of these laws are, in effect, tantamount to dead letters,” he remarked. He cited both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and domestic legislation, calling on the government and its agents to uphold and protect these rights and ensure no discrimination in the pursuit of sustainable development.
The Chairperson appealed to employers to actively engage, train, and build the capacities of persons with disabilities. “You will not know our capabilities unless you give us opportunities on an equal basis. This is the only way to appreciate our brilliance, intelligence, and abilities,” he remarked.
To illustrate the potential of persons with disabilities, Krubally references former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, highlighting that success is achievable despite challenges posed by disability. He urged Gambians to end discrimination and recognize the talents and contributions of persons with disabilities.
