Disabled to continue protests until demands are met

THE DISABLED People International, Trinidad Chapter yesterday held a series of protests against discrimination by the private and public sectors. President of the group, George Daniel, explained that disabled people, or differently abled people as they  preferred to be called, are not treated like human beings by the people in authority. Daniel was speaking to reporters outside the National Flour Mills Compound, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, following an attempt to eject the group from the pavement in front of the company by security officers employed by NFM. The group has been holding a vigil in front of NFM for the last 20 days in protest of the company’s failure to employ one of its members.

Daniel explained that they spoke to the person in charge of the security detail that was employed to eject them, but no final decision was reached. He stated that the group will continue their actions until their demands are met. The group has also acquired the voluntary service of former Trade Unionist Clive Nunez, who stated that the end of discrimination of the differently abled is long overdue. He explained that the group has been having difficulties at various sectors in society, including the transportation and housing sector. He explained that the group had also demonstrated in front of the Public Transport Services Commission’s transport hub at City Gate over the transportation system and the National Housing Authority yesterday over the problems being experienced for transportation and the monthly payment for houses of differently abled people.

Nunez explained that in 2000, PTSC had made a decision to purchase five specially assembled buses for use by disabled persons. He explained that everything was in place, the buses had been located and the work needed on them finalised. However when the matter went before the government for approval, everything “fell down.” He explained that when the new government took office, they attempted to have the matter dealt with, but were informed that there was no budgetary allocation for the purchase of the buses in the large budget. “I want the government to tell me if all the things the government doing, including CEPEP and the large amount given to assist BWIA, was in the budgetary allocations.”

Nunez also explained that the group has been trying to get the NHA and the Housing Ministry to put some strategy in place to have special conditions made available to disabled people for housing units. He said these persons are unable to get a job to pay their bills and are required to pay rents in excess of $300 per month for housing units. He explained that last year, the group had made a request for this to be done. However when they spoke to the NHA, they were informed that once six months had expired on a document, they would have to reapply or re-submit that request. In response, NHA explained that a note is now before Cabinet seeking to have special conditions apply to disabled persons who require living accommodation through NHA. In addition, a recommendation was made to Cabinet for the Social Welfare Department to work along with the chapter for disabled persons towards purchasing units for its members. Communication Specialist for the NHA Lenore Joseph noted that housing applications, which have been received from disabled persons are currently being processed without any form of discrimination applied.