Deaf and hard of hearing commend CRC, defend disability rights at consultation meeting

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

The deaf and hard of hearing of the Upper River Region (URR) south on Saturday have commended the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) for including differently able persons’ rights to use sign language in the draft constitution while complaining of being discriminated in the society.

The CRC has embarked on second phase public consultation following the draft of a new constitution for the republic of The Gambia. The CRC was established by an act of parliament in 2018 to review the 1997 constitution, after severe critics from many Gambians both at home and abroad.

However, section 56 (d) of the draft constitution states” A person with any disability is entitled to use sign language, braille or other appropriate means of communication.

With the help of the CRC sign language interpreter, some deaf expressed delight to the commission for inserting section 56 (d) in the new draft constitution.

Mod Lamin Ceesay, deaf expressed gratitude to CRC for protecting their rights to communication in the new constitution.

He told the commission that hence this provision had been indicated in the constitution, then efforts should be made to ensure the deaf are taught in sign language in schools with deaf students to ensure their understanding like other students.

Mr. Ceesay called on parents to enroll their differently abled children to school so that they acquire knowledge as they have right to education like any other person.

Speaking to The Monitor, Sulayman Bah, also deaf, thanked the commission for ensuring that their right to communication is guaranteed in the draft constitution.

According to him, this provision would make sure teachers are well trained before being posted to teach in schools so as to teach differently abled students as expected.

Mr. Baldeh called on the commission to establish a provision that ensures every television station in the country has a sign language interpreter so that the deaf understand programmes that are broadcast, saying they would like to know the daily activities of the country by watching TV but said Gambia’s TV stations lack sign language interpreters.

“We also want the health centres and hospitals across the country to have sign language interpreters so that when we (deaf) go to the health facilities we will be able to communicate with health personnel,” he told this reporter through the CRC sign language interpreter.

He added: “This is what we want from CRC.”

Haja Sillah, deaf who serve as chairperson Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH) at Basse branch expressed disappointment about the way the deaf are treated in the society, saying many are not treating them equally with the abled.

She said deaf women often have communication constraints at public places such as health centres, especially if they don’t go with their family members to help them in communication.

She added that this often happen owing to the lack of sign language interpreters in public institutions.

Madam Sillah, also a trainer of sign language told this medium that government should endeavor to provide sufficient materials for teaching people in sign language.

She revealed that the deaf had been encountering discrimination in the society while calling on the commission to establish punishable law to anyone who deliberately discriminate differently abled persons.

Bakary MN Sanyang, deputy head master at Koba Kunda Lower Basic School in Basse said: “It is very important for public institutions to have sign language interpreters in order to help the deaf communicate with others.”

According to him, if the deaf are not communicating with others they will find difficult to tackle their problems, adding if they are not opportune to communicate effectively then it means they are marginalised in the society.