'Lingo'- reveals the bright side of blindness

“Meh greatest desire is to be able to see, but meh greatest fear is de day ah wake up with vision, ah might die from shock!”  That is the declaration of Calypsonian and Extempo personality Joseph Vautor-Laplaceliere ‘Lingo’, who has been visually impaired all his life.  ‘Lingo’ revealed that his mother had contracted Measles (Rubella) and this affected the development of his eyes.

“I ent know what colour looks like, or what light looks like…man I doh even know what I look like! (laughing).  In an interview with People, the 32-year-old artiste proved to have such a positive outlook on life.  ‘Lingo’ joked about almost everything, even in relating circumstances in which he was unjustly treated, he would find a laugh or two. He admits “sometimes I does really vex I blind!”  ‘Lingo’ claims that he tries not to become frustrated by the discrimination he faces on a daily basis.  “I get it from taxi drivers to vendors to the man on the street.” He revealed that drivers are often reluctant to take him in their vehicles because of his impairment, but admits that he is quite capable of getting in and out of a vehicle without assistance.  Some vendors have refused to sell him which he claims still has him confused because he knows that his money has the same value as anybody else’s.  An employee at the Blind Welfare Association for the past 13 years, ‘Lingo’ has been trained in handicraft.

Many visually impaired persons master the art of handicraft.  His stories of traveling to Port of Spain from his hometown Sangre Grande are nothing short of incredible, but these are still no match for those of his trips abroad and alone. ‘Lingo’ spoke of the many times he travelled with only the company of his cane.  “My biggest enemy was dem poles all over town…and we ent make friends yet.”  He expressed his dissatisfaction with the way these poles are placed all over Port-of-Spain with no sense of order.  “I will get away from one pole on de side of de pavement and bump straight into one in the middle a few steps after”.  As a child ‘Lingo’ confessed to having a constant swollen forehead, “I would bounce into any and everything, but as ah grew older ah became a lil more familiar with meh surroundings”. He expressed his concern for the open trenches that are so prevalent on sidewalks.  He claims to have friends who have actually fallen into them.  Some simple tasks that we may take for granted could be such a burden ‘Lingo’ informed.  The purchasing of clothing and not to mention paying for things, can be an absolute bother.  While some of us may go for certain colours, ‘Lingo’ is generally limited to fabric texture and symbolic differences like one pocket or two.  He claims that he tries to purchase clothes with different features so that he can identify them easily. People have given him tips on dressing as in what colours blend well together, but the easiest thing for him to remember is ‘black goes with everything!’  ‘Lingo admits that dealing with money can be tedious at times.  He identifies his bills by the way in which he folds them, as each is folded in a different manner.  “I try to walk with exact change so as to avoid de tiefing ting, but sometimes yuh could run out ah change and dat is when dey could ketch meh.” 

Relating how insensitive some people could be, ‘Lingo’ told of an incident on Duke Street in which a passerby stumbled over his cane and broke it.  ‘Lingo’ explained that he would not be able to go anywhere without his cane but the man very sternly informed “I have a meeting with meh lawyer and ah late” and left him stranded on the street.  “I does go through all kinda thing yes,” ‘Lingo’ said laughing, “he lucky I ent see he face, (still laughing) but all that is life, my life at least.”  He has a new cane now, and a better one at that, it glows in the dark.  Lingo claims that his grandmother was a great sense of support both in his singing and life in general.  So too is Reigning Extempo Monarch Sheldon John.  “Sheldon is meh horse, we real good!”  He admits that John and himself share a close relationship and they are very supportive of each other.  Asked about what he thinks his chances are, warring against John, ‘Lingo’ commented, “it would be a fight to the finish.”  So, in terms of dreams and aspirations, “I dream of flying a plane…not to transport people eh!  Just for the experience.”  He continued “I would like to get married and have children, but I doh know what  is wrong with Trinidadian women…they just doh like blind men.”  Asked what are some of the things he wishes he could change, ‘Lingo’ responded “People’s attitude toward those with disabilities.  We are human too and some folks just need to educate themselves more because many times they react out of ignorance.  I would also like people to involve us more so that we may feel a part of, organise activities whereby we can also participate.”