World White Cane Day – 15 October 2023

National Statement

While we continue to enjoy this World Day aimed to the Blindness cause and remain thankful for the support extended by the authorities and the general public , at the same moment we mark seriously and maturely the shortcomings that disadvantage us on a daily basis .

We therefore declare the need that the National Budget estimates should start to address and include our country’s challenges in order to move forward with its agenda towards improvements in the environment in which we in the blind community are surrounded by such as proper access to public pedestrian access suitable not only for wheelchairs and infant pushchairs, but also to pedestrian blind persons who live in our same villages and cities where those gifted with sight take as matter of fact.

The development of 80% of a human brain depends on the sight, and only 3% use the guide dog, whilst only 7% use the white cane, are of enough statistical evidence to shine a light of the gap that exists in our National strategy and that therefore radical and immediate changes are required to challenge this lasser faire attitude, that what does not affect me dies not matter must be revolutionised and restructured including in how each Ministry should allocate a percentage of their financial estimates to provide for blind persons requirements.

Indeed we are publicly striving to achieve that the lives of people like us who live in a World Beyond the Light, should have a new chapter and framework that truly reflects the independence in our lives if we are to be treated with equality in the social inclusion policy any government of the day should spearhead without further dragging our feet.

Only in this manner will the Blind Community be really treated equally as everyone else where able or not, and shall be tangibly able to participate actively as part of the socio-economic development of our nation. Visual Non Visual Network