In St Paul’s and across Antigua, we talk often about community—and what makes a community strong is when everyone can belong. But can we truly call ourselves a community if some of our members can’t access schools, museums, or even bathrooms?
Accessibility isn’t just about physical space; it’s about shared space—about ensuring every child, parent, and elder can participate fully in the life of our nation.
Last week, we had the opportunity to visit the Government House Museum, and what we saw gave us hope for the kind of community we are becoming. The project underway isn’t just renovation—it’s transformation. Two bathrooms were removed to make way for a lift that will allow individuals with disabilities to access the second floor. Two more are being extended for wheelchair accessibility. Even the ramp, which once served its purpose, is being replaced with a new design that follows international accessibility standards.
In a building filled with history, this work symbolizes the future—a future where everyone can move, learn, and experience without barriers.
As the United Nations reminds us, “Accessibility is a precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in society.” Those words matter because they echo what we are seeing here in Antigua and Barbuda.
Our Disabilities and Equal Opportunities Act, 2017, sets the framework. Section 23 emphasizes that public buildings and facilities must be made accessible to persons with disabilities. It’s one thing to read those words in law—it’s another to see them lived out within our community.
Imagine a tourist in a wheelchair exploring our heritage. Imagine a student with mobility challenges joining a school field trip without worry. Imagine a parent who no longer has to say “you can’t go upstairs.” That’s what inclusion looks like.
The changes at Government House show us what’s possible when we think bigger than convenience and act with compassion and design. Accessibility, after all, is not a favor—it’s a fundamental right.
