NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Disabled Persons Organization (DPO) has officially installed its new executive team, which plans to take the organization to higher heights during the next two years of tenure.
The DPO is a cross-disability non-profit organization founded in 1981 by the late Phillip Smith. It was established to promote the human rights of all people with disabilities, to promote effective measures for the equalization of opportunities and encourage their full participation in society.
Antoine Munroe has been reinstated as DPO president and during this second term, he is determined to help make the DPO mission statement a reality.
The mission: “To establish social, educational and training programmes to ensure that persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas lead independent lives to the maximum extent possible.”
Munroe said: “During this, my second tenure, I wish to achieve more visibility for our organization, showcasing the wonderful talent of our members, especially the youth.
“We have a very active, vibrant youth arm and we want the public and private corporations and businesses to see what we have to offer. Disabled persons have proven themselves effective in various sectors of society once given a chance.
“I also want to be able to hire one or two people during this tenure. In addition, I want to bring back the pillow-making project. This was once a thriving project that members of the public greatly supported. We will bring this back and aim to hire at least ten people to fulfill this project.”
Other members of the newly-inducted DPO executive team include: Ashanity Armbrister, first vice president; Abbie Munroe, second vice president; Lester Ferguson, treasurer; Stephan Pitt, assistant treasurer; Rickia Pratt, secretary; Lecheka Minnis, assistant secretary; Sheri Fountain, director; Gary Ferguson, director; Brenda Charles, trustee; Troy Fisher, trustee; and Tyrone Johnson, public relations officer/chaplain.
Since the incorporation of the DPO as a legally registered organization in 1996, the organization has taken tremendous steps in promoting and encouraging the education and training, economic empowerment, social development and integration of people with disabilities in society.
The DPO is of the conviction that within every person with a disability lies an equal or greater ability. This is why the organization continues to invest in the development of its members through education and training.
The DPO is the only organization in The Bahamas that has membership in the Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), which is a network of national organizations or assemblies of people with disabilities. President Munroe has the honor of being the first Bahamian to sit on the executive team of the DPI. He currently serves as public relations officer.
The DPO also has membership in DP North American and Caribbean Regional Council. The DPO is also one of the founding members of the Disabled Peoples’ Organizations of the Caribbean (DPOC), which was founded in 1997 to promote and advocate for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. The DPO is a member of the Bahamas National Council for Disabilities, the umbrella organization for people with disabilities in the Bahamas.
The organization also has a good working relationship with the Disability Affairs Division, the leading government agency on disability under the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development.
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