By Adama Makasuba

Magistrate Muhammed Krubally has expressed his dismay about the way Gambians perceived people with physical challenges in the country.

Mr. Krubally was speaking to Gambiana during an advocacy training seminar for women, youths and people with disabilities organized by the charity, Westminster at Baobab Hotel on Monday.

Mr. Krubally, the first Gambian vision-impaired magistrate and solicitor at the Supreme Court, said that people with disability in The Gambia face lots of challenges with respect to political activities and the decision making processes.

“One of many challenges disabled people continue to face in this country is lack of job opportunity or employment for people with disabilities because on the basis of the individual with disability even though if he or she is qualified to take up certain job, the institution or those particular out there will just judge that particular disabled person on the basis of their disability,” he said.

He said with regards to policy-making processes at the level of the state and political parties that disabled people continue to suffer greatly, adding “we are being isolated and we are been neglected.”

Mr. Krubally also cited that “even if a disable person wants to run for a certain position within a political party that the uninformed individuals would object and thwart their ambition.”

He said people with disability in the country are not economically independent and self-reliant, adding “the money is not theirs that is why you see people with disabilities asking for help.”

He quoted the rights guaranteed to disabled people in the Constitution in Section 31 sub section (1, 2 and3) which states that “a person with disability has the right to health services, employment and education.”

Mr. Krubally called for more sensitization and enlightenment among Gambians on the rights and welfare of the physically challenge people, “particularly those that have negative attitude or ignorance of the potentials of people with disabilities to understand that they’re human beings.”

Meanwhile, the five day seminar focuses on political parties to stick to the issue of inclusion and accountability within the parties to address and enhance internal governance of political parties in leadership, management and participation.