Francisco Cuellar is New BAPDA President

The Belize Association of Persons with Diverse Ability (BAPDA) has elected new board members following the passing of former President Kenrick Theus. On March twenty-second, the association held elections to choose a new leadership team. Francisco Cuellar, who previously served as vice-president, was elected as the new president. We had the chance to speak with Cuellar today about his new role.

 

Francisco Cuellar, President, BAPDA

“I took up the post. I was vice president, and Mr. Theus was president. So it is an honor for me as president because now I will fight for people with disability and diverse ability like myself. Nothing much has been happening in the country of Belize. We just passed the Disability Bill, now we have a new minister. The election happened, so we starting a new process. Everything is new, so the transition will happen but it will take time. I promise to work hard for people who are disabled, mental, sickle cell to register as a member. We are looking at data. We don’t know data concerning people living with disabilities. My vision is to make all buildings disability accessible. They have ramps, elevators, buildings with two, three floors don’t have ramps or elevators so people with wheelchairs cant climb up. They have to climb on steps so that is the transition I want to fight. Even with the hurricane season on us, we don’t have proper shelters for persons with disabilities, like persons who are bedridden without proper shelter. So we are working on it as we speak.”