The Commission for Persons Living with Disability was established by an Act of Parliament to seek the general well-being of person’s with all categories of disabilities in the country; which is the reason why they staged a protest rather than going to the Police.
According to the Chairman for Handicap Action Movement, Abu White Koroma, they want the Commissioner to support them for the completion of a permanent structure as they are currently staying in a makeshift as the rainy season fast approaches.
Since these people left their previous destinations, they have been sleeping on the naked floor in the makeshift structure where they stand the risk of catching contagious and other diseases.
He explained that the Commissioner on many occasions has been reluctant to speak to them either on telephone or in person whenever they visit him at his office, adding that they have been spending their personal resources to fund their mass movements to and from the Commission for dialogue.
Responding, the Commissioner for Persons Living with Disability, James Taiwo Cullen admonished the protesters to exercise patience for the approval of the document, adding that they should not use violence as a remedy.
He further said that the disabled should contribute to national development and reject violence, stating that as a disabled person himself, he is encouraging them to unite and fight discrimination against disabled persons.
“The money is not my personal money, the government appointed me to manage the problems of the disabled,” Cullen said, adding that he does not want to rush things that might result to problems in the future.
Francis Ndanema, Executive Director Media Watch Sierra Leone said they are happy to have a word of hope from the Commissioner, stating they will be doing follow-ups but that if he fails to keep to his promise they will protest again.
