The Chairperson of the Gibraltar Disability Society, Debbie Borastero, recently raised the issue of the slow progress of the introduction of disability legislation directly with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

The Society said that in response to the question of why disability legislation has not been passed unlike other equality legislation the Chief Minister stated it was because of the ‘cost its introduction would bring about not only to the government but to private businesses’.

After writing to the  Chief Minister to ask for clarification of this statement, they received the following response: “We are making huge progress and expect to publish a further draft very shortly for consultation in particular with the GFSB and the Chamber. 

“The reasoning behind the further circulation of drafts relate to the potential cost to business issue which we discussed. We want to get this right and don't want the disabled to be seen as an ‘additional cost to business’. Hence wanting to get it right the first time.”

A spokesman for the Society said: “The Society is very discouraged by this reply although the honesty of the Chief Minister was appreciated. The Committee feel that at present it must refrain from making any further comment until a comparison can be made between the first draft, to which the Society was a “stakeholder” and was released for public consultation in October 2015, and any further drafts the Government release for public consultation.

“It is imperative that all those affected by disability issues or who are involved in disability issues participate fully in further public consultation. At the end of the day disability legislation must put the rights of the disabled in our community above all else.”

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