Suratt considers legal action

“I have reached out to my attorney and I am waiting on advice from them on how to pursue the matter,” Suratt said at a press conference held yesterday at the Association’s building at 116-118 Duke Street, Port of Spain.

“Once my attorney feels we have a good case, we are pursuing it, and any money received from the matter will be donated to the Association. It is not about money and I do not want any money.” Suratt said he was humiliated and embarrassed and wants to ensure that no other blind person in this country will endure what he did.

He said police officers cannot arrest a blind person without the presence of a Justice of the Peace.

On Thursday last, Suratt and other members of the Association tried to break locks at the School for the Blind in Santa Cruz, to facilitate installation of fire alarms, as was directed by the Fire Services of Trinidad and Tobago.

He said Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Harrilal Seecharan, in a letter stated, “The TTBWA has a constitutional and legislative right to access and quietly hold and enjoy the said property which the school is located.” Suratt added that the school has no Fire Life Certificate and was closed because of this.

He accused the principal of the school of being uncooperative with the TTBWA in securing the Fire Life Certificate.

“We need to create a stable environment for the children to grow.

“This academy’s services help both students and adults and set a proper foundation for them to grow.

We are still unable to secure a meeting with (Education) Minister (Anthony) Garcia, pertaining to this matter.

“We need to put aside our differences and do what is best for the children because at the end of the day the youths are the future of our country.”