A blindfolded Labour Minister, Pearnel Charles, is aided by a cane to navigate the road like a blind person during the official handover ceremony of aid for the Jamaica Society for the Blind at its headquarters on September 28. - photo by Oliver Wright

The work of the Jamaica Society for the Blind was bolstered with a $1 million donation and teaching aids from Digicel Foundation.

The regional telecommunication company made the donation to the organisation at its Old Hope Road headquarters in Kingston last Friday. The organisation also got a Suzuki van, white canes and phones for its members.

Virginia Woods, executive director of the Jamaica Society for the Blind, in accepting the gifts, said the gifts will greatly enhance the work of the society. He said the society was especially grateful for the van as they have the challenge of reaching the blind in especially rural schools in Jamaica because of only one van.

"Today, Digicel Foundation is placing in our hands the power to solve this challenge. The donation of this vehicle will allow us to increase the number of persons we can reach as well as improve the quality of service we provide," she said.

No hesitation

Robert Neish, executive director of Digicel Foundation, said the foundation had no hesitation in approving assistance to the society, which had applied to the foundation for assistance.

He said so far the foundation had completed some 50 projects including assisting basic schools and construction of multi-purpose sport facilities.

Endorsing the contribution made by Digicel, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, challenged all Jamaicans to partner with the Government to move the country forward.

" Those of us who can see, must be in partnership with the blind so that we all can live better," he said.

In meantime, Mr. Charles also served notice that he would be following up plans to make buildings accessible to the blind.

Allowing the blind to work

"We are concerned about the environment in which we are allowing the blind to work," he said. "This time, we want to look at the roadway, I don't know how you walk on the roadway with a utility pole in the middle, somebody has to tell me how you can put up a pole or plant a palm tree in the middle of the sidewalk."

He said this would be changed under the Jamaica Labour Party administration. Mr. Charles also experienced first-hand challenges of the blind when he was blindfolded and walked around the grounds with the assistance of a white cane.