Under the high patronage of President Michel Martelly, the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH) and the Project of Strengthening of Legal Framework for Persons with Disabilities in Haiti of the Organization of American States (OAS) have organized, Monday, Sept. 10 at the Hotel Montana, a discussion with the private business sector on the disability situation in Haiti.

This meeting was held under the theme "Access for disabled persons to employment and to the adapted work", was an opportunity for Gérald Oriol Junior, Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, to make a plea for the presence of people with special needs in business. Oriol said he believed that a person with a disability is not a problem for a business.

The Head of State, pleaded once again in favor of respect of the difference and the acceptance of persons with disabilities. He asks everyone to support them, because an extra effort must be made to support this sector, "Our country needs for its takeoff, of the contribution of all its daughters and son and we have no right to let lose the smallest atom of intelligence,the smallest particle of potential." [10% of the population lives with a disability]

The presence of the Head of State in this great meeting proves its desire to safeguard the equality of all humanto make respect the freedom and dignity of all, to create the necessary framework to curb any discrimination based on disability "I look at this initiative like as a step towards the emergence of a civic conscience, which takes into account the conditions of existence of the entire population. And this step reinforces me in my conviction that, us Haitians can overcome our little person and open ourselves to the needs of our countrymen."

Intervention of President Michel Martelly

Many entrepreneurs present have understood the need to provide equal opportunities to all and have promised to integrate now the competent people with disabilities in their businesses. Mr. Hervé Denis, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti (CCIH) invites all other members to do the same.

Act on the Integration of Persons with Disabilities

"Every business manager who refuses to employ a person because of his disability is liable to a fine ranging from two hundred thousand (200,000) gourdes to five hundred thousand (500,000) gourdes for each offense for which he was convicted".

HL/ HaitiLibre