Blind sue Government

TWENTY-ONE persons, 20 of whom are either blind or physically challenged, filed a constitutional motion yesterday claiming they are being discriminated against because of the neglect by the government in enacting the Equal Opportunities Act.

In the first such challenge to the 2000 legislation, the applicants are asking the High Court to rule that the failure of the government to appoint an equal opportunity tribunal, is a contravention of their constitutional rights. The motion was filed by attorney Darrell Allahar in the Port-of-Spain High Court Registry. Hearing of the motion has been fixed for July 1. The applicants are being represented by former UNC Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Garnet Mungalsingh, Allahar and Vashist Maharaj. The applicants are : Kenneth Suratt, Bhawani Persad, Dave Homer, Joseph Belgrove, Lakhan Seepersad, Dennis Seebaran, Rajendra Ramnarine, Parvatee Dawajit, Sandra Juman, Kaloutie Gopaulsingh, Michael Durham, Deonarine Ragoo (members of the Blind Welfare Association); Devon Garraway, David Thomas, Dianne Arneaud, Rakesh Persad (physically challenged), and Ashton Ramsundar, an employee of Caroni (1975) Limited.

Suratt, who filed an affidavit on behalf of the other blind persons, said they had suffered in the past and continue to suffer injustices and inequality of treatment on the ground of their disability. He said the commercial banks refuse to provide them with ATM cards or credit cards. He pointed out that the banks have continuously refused or neglected to modify their systems in favour of blind persons. Suratt also complained that teachers at secondary schools were not fully trained to deal with visually impaired students and this had placed them at a severe disadvantage. Suratt listed several instances of discrimination. He said the roads are not properly maintained; manholes and pavements are left open and unguarded; traffic lights are not equipped with a system of audible signs to allow the visually impaired to cross the roads safely; electricity poles are often placed in the middle of pavements and are unguarded and unfenced; several public buildings are not designed to accommodate the visually impaired. Suratt said PTSC does not acknowledge their bus passes on the express luxury buses, contrary to the terms of the passes issued by the Ministry of Social Development.

Devon Garraway, who filed an affidavit on behalf of the physically challenged, said they were being discriminated again. He listed private and public buildings including Parliament where no facilities are provided for wheelchair-bound persons. “It is almost impossible for physically challenged persons to obtain employment on the job market, both in the public and private sectors. Employers do not wish to employ us because of our disability. None of us has been able to secure gainful employment despite our several attempts to do so,” he added.  Ashton Ramsundar, who lives in Freeport, said he did not accept the offer made to him by Caroni to participate in the VSEP. Admitting that Caroni was not in a financial position, Ramsundar said WASA and Petrotrin were in the same position, yet employees were not being subjected to take VSEP. Ramsundar, like many other employees, fears that Caroni will terminate his employment. He feels discriminated against by Caroni on the grounds of his race, geographic origin and religion. The applicant feels this way as members of his race or ethnic group do not generally support the PNM. Ramsundar said he wants to lodge complaints of such discrimination, but there is no Equal Opportunity Commission.