To The Editor

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The Labour Spokesman
Church Street, Basseterre:
10th June, 2017.

Dear Mr. Editor.

I am a less abled citizen of Sugar City, St. Kitts, who wheels himself around down town Basseterre because I feel that despite my disability, I am still very much a part of the human race and that I should be enjoying life just like anyone else; but it seems as though some businesses want me to creep into my bed, lock myself in the room and pray for the angel of death to come and claim my soul.

Madam Editor, I wanted the services of the two cell phone providers in Fort Street but when I reached the entrance to the two businesses, I was jolted by the invisible message they blared out to me, because there were no accommodation available for entry into the business place for persons like me. There are over 60 of us who are registered members of the Disabled Association and all of us without exception, use cell-phones which we use to communicate with our loved ones or to play games to relax the mind.

It is high time that people like us are treated like the human beings we are. We are not beggars; we are bona fide customers. There is no difference between our currency and that of the able bodied.

I had to stay outside and hollow so that someone could come and wheel me in for service. To be fair, once inside, the service at both providers was in the superlative degree. But, we don’t want to be at the mercy of anyone. Just provide a ramp so that those who use wheel chairs can just push the door and pull ourselves inside.

WE WANT TO FEEL INDEPENDENT! No lot of expense is involved in the exercise. The providers can just purchase some pieces of board from Horsfords, TDC, or Builders Paradise and provide a board ramp in front of the business and secure it every evening when the businesses close; easy as kissing a hand. Problem solved. Madam Editor, life is unpredictable; none of us can see what tomorrow holds. With the snap of a finger, those who are able today can become disabled tomorrow, so let us be thoughtful to those who are disabled today.

I hope that someone will draw this letter to the attention of the providers and that there will be considerable improvements meted out to folks like us who are still glad and happy to be alive. Make us feel that we are still a part of the human race: Why the discrimination and total lack of concern for and against folks like us?

Thank you Madam Editor
Earle Clarke
Bird Rock—Basseterre.

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