Let this protest be

FOR GENERATIONS, the physically challenged have been the silent victims of neglect and discrimination in our society. More than two months ago, their pent up frustration erupted in  demonstrations aimed at focusing public attention on their plight and to shame the authorities into taking corrective action. As part of their protest, members of the Trinidad Chapter of Disabled People International set up a vigil outside the Wrightson Road premises of National Flour Mills where one of their members had been seeking in vain to obtain employment. Now we understand that the Police may soon move to break-up this vigil outside the NFM premises. At a news conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning expressed his regret that the situation had developed to the point where the Commissioner of Police might have to take action to ensure that the disabled group leaves the premises of the National Flour Mills.

We must now ask why? Has the protest been successful, has it achieved its objectives? Has any physically challenged person been employed by the company? Has any action been taken at all by the government or the business community to meet the justifiable and long-standing grievances of the country's disabled persons? We believe the answer to these questions is no; so why are the Police planning to disband this entirely peaceful but determined vigil? It may be that the demonstration has become an embarrassment to NFM, in which case that is no reason to disperse the wheel-chaired protestors. The Police may have decided to act on the excuse that the vigil is obstructing the free movement of the pavement on the western side of Wrightson Road. That may be true but the reason, in this case, is absurd and acting on it will only serve, in our view, to add to the discrimination already inflicted on members of the disabled community.

If the Police can turn a blind eye to the legion of vendors who crowd and congest the busy streets and pavements of downtown Port-of-Spain with their large trays and boxes, then why are they singling out the small group of physically challenged persons who keep vigil on Wrightson Road every day? The fact is, this protest does not really constitute a public inconvenience since there are no residences along that section of Wrightson Road and very few, if any at all, pedestrians use that stretch of pavement. Instead of using the heavy hand of the law to disperse this peaceful demonstration, the Government should be making every effort to ensure equality of treatment for disabled persons in every area and facet of public life. The Prime Minister himself had indicated some months ago that only "certain shortcomings" had been holding up implementation of the Equal Opportunities Act which deals with cases of discrimination in our society. And even though a constitutional motion has been filed by a group of 21 disabled persons claiming discrimination because of this failure, nothing still has been done to have this Act implemented.

Mr Manning says that his next Budget would address the problems of the disabled community but, whether true or not, that is still only a promise. And, according to George Daniel, president of the TT branch of Disabled People International, they are fed up with getting only empty promises. With respect to National Flour Mills, protestors say the company remains unheeding to their applications for employment. Devon Garraway has failed in his bid over five years. And the company's promise three weeks ago to hire a disabled worker has not been fulfilled. Physically challenged persons are determined to continue their protest and it is our view that they should be allowed to do so until their justifiable grievances are substantially addressed.