No let up from GDA as discrimination law nears

GUERNSEY Disability Alliance will be keeping its ‘foot on the gas’ to ensure that discrimination legislation finally comes in this autumn, members heard at its AGM.

Guernsey Disability Alliance officers with, right, Rosemary Eaton, medical sales manager at Mercury Distribution. Left to right, Mike Read, GDA health representative, Rob Harnish, GDA transport representative and Carol Le Page, GDA social policy director. (Picture by Luke Le Prevost, 31800893)

The implementation of the Prevention of Discrimination Ordinance was high on the agenda, as Guernsey edges closer to bringing in the law after years of campaigning by the GDA.

When it comes into effect on 1 October, it will make it unlawful for employers and service providers to discriminate against a person on the grounds of race, disability, carer status, sexual orientation or religious belief in employment, when providing goods, services, education and accommodation and in the membership of clubs and associations.

GDA social policy director Carol Le Page said there were some concerns from members that the current financial situation might mean the ordinance would be delayed. But she did not think there would be problems.

‘There shouldn’t be any reason for a delay,’ she said.

‘[We] just need to make sure we don’t take our foot off the gas when it comes to ensuring its implementation.’

Mrs Le Page said that an additional goal of the GDA following the ordinance’s implementation would be to pressure the States into requesting an extension to Guernsey of the UK’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Because Guernsey is part of the British Isles, and not a UN member state, it cannot sign up to the convention in its own right. Instead, such human rights agreements are extended, on request, to Guernsey by the UK.

However, the UK requires that, as a minimum, Guernsey has some form of discrimination legislation in place before extending its ratification.

The meeting also saw the election of Toni de Kooker as the GDA’s new chairwoman, and Mercury Distribution’s Rose Eaton was a guest speaker.

The GDA has also uploaded a questionnaire on its website seeking to shape its future direction.

‘We have about 40 organisation members, and 80 to 90 members on top of that. However, it would be good to re-invigorate our membership and try and attract some new, younger members,’ Mrs Le Page said.

. The questionnaire can be found at https://bit.ly/3lBahpZ.