Public buildings to face new scrutiny for accessibility to persons with disabilities

In a bid to improve access to public facilities for persons living with disabilities, the National Commission on Disabilities will soon begin working with public buildings in Georgetown.

Programme Manager of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, Ganesh Singh, noted that building codes and accessibility standards recommended by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) are not currently being enforced.

This year, the Commission plans to prioritise the enforcement of these codes and strengthen monitoring by the relevant authorities. Following the launch of the Building Accessibility Handbook 2025, a product of the Ministry of Health’s Disability and Rehabilitation Services in collaboration with the National Commission on Disability (NCD), there will be an audit piloted at buildings in Georgetown.

“Any building that has a public access or government owned and we will have persons with disabilities, they have that check list that they will check.

“What we need is for the systems or mechanisms to be put in place to enforce building codes and the relevant authorities to ensure that there is compliance,” Singh said.

The gradient of the ramps and the width of doors, corridors, and ramps to allow persons adequate accessibility are among the factors that will be examined. Limitations and recommendations will also be provided to building owners.

According to the Persons with Disabilities Act 2010, public buildings must cater for persons living with disabilities. Building owners were given a five-year grace period to comply. However, with little enforcement and awareness, there has been a delay. Singh said the advocacy for buildings to meet these standards is necessary.

He noted that buildings constructed by international companies entering the country’s markets are complying with international accessibility standards as a precautionary measure—not because they have staff or guests living with disabilities.

“It’s not just for persons with disabilities because a ramp could help a pregnant woman, who might have difficulty in the late stages of pregnancy walking upstairs, it could help a mom that has a stroller with a child, it could help elderly persons who might have mobility challenges,” he said.