A new Board of Directors has been appointed to oversee the operations of the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities Inc. (NCPD), set to serve for the period 2026–2028.
The elections took place during the organisation’s General Meeting at Coconut Bay Resort on Sunday, August 2.
Antonius Tixcy, popularly known as “The Blind Farmer,” has been elected as President of the organisation. He will be supported by Kevin Jean Baptiste as First Vice President and Miguel Doyle as Second Vice President.
Jonnaki Satney was elected Secretary, while outgoing President Merphilus James will continue his service as Treasurer. Ryan O’Brian was elected as Public Relations Officer.
The other elected members include Carissa Innocent as Youth Representative, Juliana Francis as Trustee with a disability, and Natacha Joseph as Trustee without a disability.
The nine-member Board consists of four women and five men, with eight members being persons with disabilities. This strong representation underscores the NCPD’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities remain central to the organisation’s leadership, advocacy, and decision-making processes. The election process was presided over by Mr. Gregory St. Ange.
During the meeting, delegates received a comprehensive report from outgoing President Merphilus James detailing the organisation’s progress, programmes, achievements, and ongoing priorities. A financial report was also presented to the membership.
Following the elections, delegates had the opportunity to identify and discuss key issues they would like the newly elected Board to prioritize during its term. The delegates included full members of the NCPD from communities across Saint Lucia, with a significant majority being persons with disabilities. A smaller group represented caregivers of persons with disabilities.
The newly elected Board is expected to build upon the organisation’s past achievements while enhancing its advocacy, programmes, and representation of persons with disabilities throughout Saint Lucia.