Blurry Vision
Published:Wednesday | January 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Society for the Blind angered by slow pace of government efforts to tackle concerns of the disabled
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
The local organisation which represents the visually impaired has heaped scorn on the Government's commitment to implement many of the Vision 2030 initiatives that have been designed to improve the quality of life of disabled persons.
Yesterday, the Jamaica Society for the Blind questioned what would be different about the Vision 2030 initiatives when successive governments had failed to tackle smaller issues facing the disabled.
According to Conrad Harris, the society's acting executive director, these smaller issues include the continued erection of light posts in the middle of sidewalks, and the wanton disregard for the rights of disabled persons by some motorists.
"These are things that everybody knows about, but when you do see a response, it tends to be token," Harris told The Gleaner yesterday.
"You don't see a comprehensive response that tells you that the planners have seen this thing and they are addressing it."
According to the Vision 2030 plan, Jamaica is seeking to become "a society that is inclusive, accessible, provides opportunities for all, and recognises the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of persons with disabilities in the process of nation building".
The three main concerns of the plan regarding persons with disabilities (PWDs) are "ensuring that the physical and social environments are enabling, ensuring that public-service personnel are aware of appropriate responses to PWDs, and ensuring that the society is protected from preventable injuries that could be disabling".
Yesterday, Harris asked: "When we look 10 years from now, how much of what is in that plan will actually be implemented?"
He added skeptically: "Based on what we have seen in the past, you hope that this time will be different."
The criticisms from the society come on the heels of Monday's fatal accident along Old Hope Road in St Andrew, which claimed the lives of 60-year-old Esmerelda Evans, who was blind, and Johanna Scarlet. Three visually impaired persons were among those injured in the crash.
Harris had harsh words for motorists, who he accused of disregarding the rights of disabled persons. He singled out taxi drivers as some of the worst offenders.
He said taxi drivers had made sections of Old Hope Road in the vicinity of the Matilda's Corner Police Station dangerous for visually impaired persons.
Harris explained that blind persons depended on their hearing to get across the road.
"When you hear the traffic stop, you are not expecting anything to be coming on the other side, so you continue and end up walking in front of a vehicle," he said.
"You assume that there are laws and the laws are working," he added in a subtle jab at the Matilda's Corner police.
Last night, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles conceded that there have been shortcomings in financial resources and management, but said suggestions that there was no commitment to improving the quality of life for disabled persons were unfair.
"We are totally committed to looking at their position and to trying to help them within the availability of funds to do so, within the availability of people to manage their positions," Charles told The Gleaner.
"I would be willing to accept that as with everything else, there are shortcomings. But, when it comes to commitment, it cannot always be played out in action," he added.
Meanwhile, senior officers at the Matilda's Corner Police Station said they were surprised to hear of the concerns raised about the area by the Jamaica Society for the Blind. They, however, promised to increase their vigilance.