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ZNS Criticized For No Signing
Sam Williams, president of the activism group Bahamas Loving Care, has sharply criticized the government for failing to have sign-language as part of the ZNS broadcasts during Tropical Storm Noel.
Pointing out that television serves the needs of the deaf community, especially in critical times like natural disasters, Mr. Williams said the absence of signing on television robs that community of "important things they ought to know."
"Because there is no signing on local television, the deaf are seriously left out as to what important things they ought to know," Mr. Williams said in a press release.
"This is especially so in regards to the news and the debates on the Parliamentary Channel. Of all the programmes that are shown on television, surely these two are critical."
Mr. Williams reiterated that BLC has held town meetings seeking to sensitize the public and the relevant government agencies about the issue.
In fact, he said, meetings have taken place between BLC and officials at the School for the Deaf and the parents of those deaf children.
"It is through their pleas that we continue to pursue this issue," Mr. Williams said.
Mr. Williams took issue with the absence of signing during the coverage of Tropical Storm Dean, the absence of which was – to him – a big problem.
"It was very important," Mr. Williams told the Journal.
He recalled an incident that was related to him during the course of the storm.
"When she called me, she said that one of the deaf people had to leave home to go to another person’s home to find out what was going on with the situation," he said.
Mr. Williams was ticked off that information was disseminated about how to care for pets during the course of the storm, but there was no signing for deaf Bahamians.
"Deaf people are human, and nobody had anything to say about them," he said. "And that tore me apart."
He suggested text messaging as a means of mass communication with deaf Bahamians in times of crisis.
Mr. Williams also called on corporate Bahamas to sponsor signing or closed captioning on ZNS. He said Commonwealth Bank initially supported signing on ZNS in the early 1990s.
"Upon investigation, we were informed that the bank was unable to continue their support due to financial reasons. We hope this is no longer the case, and that they will return as a sponsor."
"Nevertheless, we still thank them on behalf of the deaf and their families."
At a press conference given by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and members of the Ingraham Cabinet, Mr. Williams questioned Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham about the absence of signing during the storm.
Mr. Ingraham promised to look into the matter.
Sam Williams, president of the activism group Bahamas Loving Care, has sharply criticized the government for failing to have sign-language as part of the ZNS broadcasts during Tropical Storm Noel.
Pointing out that television serves the needs of the deaf community, especially in critical times like natural disasters, Mr. Williams said the absence of signing on television robs that community of "important things they ought to know."
"Because there is no signing on local television, the deaf are seriously left out as to what important things they ought to know," Mr. Williams said in a press release.
"This is especially so in regards to the news and the debates on the Parliamentary Channel. Of all the programmes that are shown on television, surely these two are critical."
Mr. Williams reiterated that BLC has held town meetings seeking to sensitize the public and the relevant government agencies about the issue.
In fact, he said, meetings have taken place between BLC and officials at the School for the Deaf and the parents of those deaf children.
"It is through their pleas that we continue to pursue this issue," Mr. Williams said.
Mr. Williams took issue with the absence of signing during the coverage of Tropical Storm Dean, the absence of which was – to him – a big problem.
"It was very important," Mr. Williams told the Journal.
He recalled an incident that was related to him during the course of the storm.
"When she called me, she said that one of the deaf people had to leave home to go to another person’s home to find out what was going on with the situation," he said.
Mr. Williams was ticked off that information was disseminated about how to care for pets during the course of the storm, but there was no signing for deaf Bahamians.
"Deaf people are human, and nobody had anything to say about them," he said. "And that tore me apart."
He suggested text messaging as a means of mass communication with deaf Bahamians in times of crisis.
Mr. Williams also called on corporate Bahamas to sponsor signing or closed captioning on ZNS. He said Commonwealth Bank initially supported signing on ZNS in the early 1990s.
"Upon investigation, we were informed that the bank was unable to continue their support due to financial reasons. We hope this is no longer the case, and that they will return as a sponsor."
"Nevertheless, we still thank them on behalf of the deaf and their families."
At a press conference given by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and members of the Ingraham Cabinet, Mr. Williams questioned Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham about the absence of signing during the storm.
Mr. Ingraham promised to look into the matter.