Caption: The Red House where the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago sits. AZP News/Azlan Mohammed
By Alicia Chamely
THE government is being urged to safeguard the rights of the visually impaired under the proposed Stand Your Ground (SYG) laws.
In a release on Saturday, the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association (TTBWA) called on the government to collaborate with them and other stakeholders to ensure the SYG legislation serves its citizens and does not marginalise them.
The TTBWA called on the government to clarify how the proposed laws would accommodate the blind and visually impaired individuals.
The Association had proposed the development of policies to train law enforcement in best practices when dealing with blinding citizens in stakes situations and ensure the law includes protections for citizens who cannot comply with visual cues or physical defence expectations.
When it comes to the granting of firearms licenses, the TTBWA called for a case-by-case evaluation system for license applications by persons with disabilities.
The TTBWA said, “Persons who are blind have the same right to personal safety as every other citizen. Yet, they are placed at a distinct disadvantage. Existing firearms regulations deny blind individuals the right to legally obtain and possess a firearm, even for the purpose of home protection. As such, if a blind person is attacked in their home, they are left without the lawful tools that others may rely on for defence.”
To rectify this, the TTBWA requested the government provide subsidised or state-funded safety tools, such as voice activated alarms, emergency contact devices and accessible notification systems for police presence.
Reminding the state that security must not only be for the able-bodied, the TTBWA said legislation to ensure the safety of citizens “must be inclusive, thoughtful and rooted in justice for all.”
The TTBWA said, “We stand ready to collaborate with lawmakers to ensure that this legislation protects—not marginalizes—the citizens it seeks to serve.”
