OPINION: We won't be celebrating, will you?

Wednesday 28 September 2022

A campaigner for equality has issued a plea to deputies to throw out amendment 8 when the anti discrimination legislation is debated this week.

Karen Blanchford has written an open letter to deputies, published below.

Dear community,

I am writing this letter as a heartfelt plea to you to support our 13,500 disabled islanders and 6,000 carers from being excluded from protection from discrimination from 63% of Guernsey organisations. The GDA has been campaigning for 15 years for equality of opportunity in all areas of island life, to gain access to education, employment, to eat out, spend our money in local goods and service providers. The economy needs us! 

Wednesday was due to be a celebration as Deputies made their 9 year promise to treat us with respect, dignity and equality. Our joy and excitement after this long term wait has been removed in the last week with a number of amendments, most notably amendment 8, which discriminates against carers and persons with disabilities. 

We’ve worked hard over the last year with businesses, groups, influencers, and deputies to reassure them and charities that reasonable adjustment means just that, as does proportionality and undue burden. To provide training, workshops, information sheets and guidance. 

Please write to deputies imploring them  not to support amendment 8 and make a commitment to us. 

On a final note, since we won’t be celebrating Wednesday, I ask you who will?

Karen Blanchford
Guernsey Disability Alliance, Associaton of Guernsey charities, Equality Guernsey,  EDI officer for the Methodist circuit