Plight of disabled

THE EQUAL Opportunities Act, which deals with cases of discrimination in our society, was passed in Parliament three years ago but this important piece of legislation is yet to be proclaimed. Now, as a result of public demonstrations by physically and visually challenged persons, we are now hearing from Prime Minister Patrick Manning that "certain shortcomings" in the Act have been holding up its implementation. What we feel sure the demonstrators would like to know is why apparently simple amendments to the Act are taking such a long time. A society such as ours, claiming to be civilised, must ensure equal opportunities for all its citizens, including those who may have some physical or visual disability as a result of accident or problem of birth. As it is, Trinidad and Tobago's record in this respect is a dismal one, particularly demonstrated by the reluctance of employers to afford these citizens opportunities to earn a livelihood and become productive members of our society. The attitude of most employers, it seems, is to regard physically impaired persons as liabilities, or at least potential liabilities, for whom adjustments in the workplace may not be worth the trouble. Surely this way of thinking is uncaring, discriminatory and un-civic minded. It is responsible for denying the rights to equal treatment and a fulfilling life to hundreds of persons who have the skills and intelligence to contribute constructively to commercial and other business enterprises and, eventually, to the society as a whole.

Now we see the frustration that has been building up among members of the physically challenged community erupting in public demonstrations. For more than two weeks, members of the Trinidad Chapter of Disabled People International have held a vigil outside the Wrightson Road premises of National Flour Mills in protest against the company's refusal to employ one of their members. Members of the group also demonstrated outside PTSC's City Gate to highlight the problems they experience with public transport and also against the National Housing Authority, expressing dissatisfaction with the Authority's treatment of applications for housing units. Indeed, the frustration of disabled persons has now reached the Courts as a group of 21 has filed a constitutional motion claiming they are being discriminated against because of the failure of the Government to implement the Equal Opportunities Act. The litigants claim that they suffer injustices and inequality of treatment in many areas because of their inability.

The blind complain about the treatment of banks refusing to provide them with ATM or credit cards, open and unguarded potholes in pavements, traffic lights without audible signals, buildings not designed to accommodate them. The physically challenged list, among their complaints, public buildings, including Parliament, where no facilities are provided for wheel-bound persons and their inability to obtain employment on the job market. Our hope is that this outbreak of protest and litigation will bring home to the entire society the suffering of disabled persons in our community and the denial of their right to equal treatment. We expect also that employers will take a more enlightened approach to their applications for employment and that the Government will now move, finally, not only to proclaim the Equal Opportunities Act but also to respond positively to the litany of grievances expressed by the disabled so that they may begin to enjoy a better quality of life.