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Disabled woman plans legal action | Trinidad Express N...

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Disabled_woman...

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Disabled woman plans legal action

Allegedly assaulted by police at City Gate...
By Julien Neaves Story Created: Mar 15, 2012 at 10:53 PM ECT
(Story Updated: Mar 15, 2012 at 10:53 PM ECT )

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A DISABLED woman is planning to take legal action after she was allegedly assaulted by a police officer yesterday at City Gate, Port of Spain. Twenty-eight-year-old administrative assistant Christabell Drayton told her story during a visit to the Express offices in Port of Spain yesterday.
'VERY UNFAIR': Differently-abled Christabell Drayton is assisted by her father, Christopher Drayton, at the Express Office in Port of Spain yesterday. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY TOOLS

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She has been disabled since she was seven years old. Her left leg was amputated above the knee due to cancer and she has to move around on crutches. She travels from La Horquetta to Port of Spain for work, using the same maxi taxi and driver who is familiar with her condition.

She arrived at City Gate yesterday in the maxi a little after 7 a.m. To accommodate Drayton, the driver had made a request of the Transit Police officer on duty that he be allowed to go straight to the main off-loading bay, opposite the entrance to the main building, instead of the Maloney off-loading bay which was further away. She recalled in the past some officers would allow him to do so when informed there was someone disabled in the maxi, but yesterday the officer refused. Drayton explained that to exit City Gate from that point one cannot use the stairs and the other route to the east was circuitous, as she would have to walk through one area and go around to exit City Gate. She would usually attempt using the short route to the west, which was restricted to pedestrian traffic as maxi taxis drive along that area. In the past some officers would allow her, with the caution to stay close to the wall, and others would restrict her and make her take the long way around to the east. Drayton claimed that yesterday when she alighted from the vehicle a female officer in a reflective vest, who she assumed to be a member of the Transit Police, told her to "go this way" and directed her to the east. "I can't walk around that way," she said she told the officer. The officer repeated that she could not pass there and Drayton continued to plead her case. The officer asked if she saw the sign about restricted access. Drayton further claimed that the officer held the fence to block her and when she attempted to pass the other way she blocked her again. She alleged that when she attempted to pass under the officer's arm she grabbed onto her arms and began pulling her back. "I said let me go. Why this woman doing this to me," she protested. Drayton reported that a male officer then arrived and told me (Drayton) to calm down. She said bystanders questioned why they were doing that to her and "advantaging" her. She said an acquaintance asked the officers to leave her alone and the male officer told him to "stay out of this". Drayton reported that she began experiencing a panic attack, crying and unable to breathe. She claimed that, after protests from the public, the female officer eventually let her go and she exited to the west as she had been attempting to. "They always fighting me down," she said. Drayton said the situation was "very unfair" and some provision should be made for the physically disabled at the City Gate maxi taxi area. "They say I'm wrong to make my life easy and make me comfortable. How can you say I wrong and I

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Disabled woman plans legal action | Trinidad Express N...

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Disabled_woman...

could go to jail. What is that? That not fair," she added. Her father, Christopher, said his daughter has been restricted by the Transit Police at City Gate in the past. She has been travelling to the transit hub for about three years. He noted during a previous incident they forced her to walk in the rain. He said in the past he had been unable to get redress from the police, Public Transport Service Corporation or the Ombudsman. He reported that a senior police officer once questioned why there should be adjustments for one person while he had pointed out that it would assist all disabled people. He said they were discriminating against his daughter and promised to get a lawyer and sue the relevant authorities over the alleged assault. Transport Minister Devant Maharaj yesterday, in a telephone interview, told the Express that his understanding was that Transit Police would usually accommodate the differently-abled to exit through the gateway area. "It is perhaps unfortunate she met inconsiderate transit people," he commented. He admitted that there were no facilities for the disabled community at City Gate, explaining that it was an old railway building constructed for trains and not buses and maxis. He said Government was restrained by various types of laws on what alterations could be done to the hub because it is deemed a heritage site, but his Ministry was looking at some type of accommodation for the disabled with the least amount of disruption to the travelling public. Acting president of Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of Disabled People's International, (TTDPI) Michael Fraser, when contacted yesterday by the Express condemned the alleged "insensitive action from the officer". "It is disturbing to me that a transit officer would stop somebody with a disability in terms of easy access. It just again shows the lack of sensitivity and the lack of understanding, especially people in the service industry, about people with disabilities," he said. He questioned whether security officers receive training to deal with people with disabilities, and noted that TTDPI would be investigating Drayton's case. Fraser said access for the disabled at City Gate has long been an issue and there were discussions with previous works and transport minister Colm Imbert, but they had not met with the current Minister on the issue. Drayton lamented that there are "absolutely no provisions in Trinidad for the disabled" and "whatever they have is minimal". She said to live she has to adapt. "This country does not adapt to disabled people. They don't provide for disabled people. They don't care about disabled people," she added. Efforts to contact Transit Police head Supt Bernard by telephone yesterday were unsuccessful.
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PM'S MONEY REFUSED TCL 'TERROR' Legal battle looms over contracts

hotdawg

105p 11 hours ago

+5

Two more teen girls missing TOP's apology call over credit card surprises Toppin

Imagine a woman police treating a disabled woman like this !

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103p 11 hours ago

JumbiesWatch

+1

This comment has been deleted by the administrator. 1 reply active 8 hours ago Report

Stonecoldfox

108p 8 hours ago

+1

The law is the law and should be followed. That said, madness is that there is no provisions for handicap accessibility. Every building which allows access to the public should have them otherwise it's not only discrimination but plain old heartlessness. A nalis employee who uses a wheelchair was charged by an officer for using a handicap parking spot recently, the case was thrown out but it showed how the police service lacked basic knowledge of handicap provisions. You and I should thank God every day that

2 of 8

16/03/2012 16:23

Disabled woman plans legal action | Trinidad Express N...

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we don't need these special provisions but we should not stop showing empathy and lobbying on behalf of people who do. If you ever want this island to truly not be "monkey island" anymore these steps are mandatory.
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103p 7 hours ago

JumbiesWatch

+5

Even more amazing... at 8:45 AM (British Time), ALL comments have disappeared.
Reply

3 replies active 2 hours ago

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JumbiesWatch

103p 2 hours ago

Funnily enough, now only MY comments are missing.

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justrini

85p 2 hours ago

+2

Real disgusting people we have in this place you know...! Just like the stinking police who turn away the naked rape victim, inconsiderate and dotish!
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InformedObzerva

82p 2 hours ago

+2

I really can't believe what I've read below... Does anyone know how difficult it would be for her to go up those stairs amongst the hustle and bustle of early morning Port of Spain, and then head down the steps on the other side? On crutches? I've seen the able bodies trip and tumble on those stairs... Some you need to get your arses thrown down those stairs before deliberating on flouting of rules or laws
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93p 7 hours ago

allawestupidnah

-7

if you are planning legal action don't use the media to announce it. JUST DO IT. For your injustice i hope you get re-dress. But here is the systematic problem, unless a system allows the exemption of persons then all rules must be followed. Foe (deliberately misspelled) example, if in a food prepreartion area wearing jewelley is not allowed don't tell the health inspector that its your wedding ring and your man will beat you up or the other inspectors don't tell you any thing.
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3 replies active 52 minutes ago

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JumbiesWatch

103p 7 hours ago

-11

What injustice? her stupidity in breaching the law?

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AhTriniToo

96p 52 minutes ago

+1

"if in a food prepreartion area wearing jewelley is not allowed don't tell the health inspector that its your wedding ring and your man will beat you up or the other inspectors don't tell you any thing" Your talking apples & oranges...two very different things my friend, very different!!
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103p 7 hours ago

JumbiesWatch

-3

Reposting due to comments going missing; "Amazing. This mentality is why the Rock remains Third World, and I make no

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16/03/2012 16:23

Disabled woman plans legal action | Trinidad Express N...

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apologies for this statement. A differently-abled woman, handicapped as it is politically incorrect to say, feels she can flout the law with impunity because she is different. Madness of the first order. The officer asked if she saw the sign about restricted access. The officer would have well been within the law to arrest her sorry tail and cart her off in front of a Magistrate. No 'ifs, ands or buts' about it. The officer's actions were for her own safety. She feels aggrieved that she was being protected from her own stupidity. Had she been knocked down, or run over by a vehicle, I wonder who she would blame then? Herself? Most unlikely. Nope, she'd be looking for a fat or fatter payout from the 'Govament'. That is not to say that some concessions ought not be made for handicapped persons. It is the duty of the Authorities to provide facilities to allow them to live as normally as the rest of us do. But instead of this woman suing the State to provide access, she instead sues to 'manners' a transit cop for doing her job and protecting said idiot form her own stupidity. Only on Monkey Island."
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7 replies active 4 minutes ago

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Grandeman1

86p 4 hours ago

+4

I understand what you are saying but your comments are very insensitive. YES "only on Monkey Island" people like you will make statements like what you wrote above, "only on Monkey Island" a country will treat disable people like they are outcasts in our society. For too long disable people have been pleading for better conditions, if no facilities or provisions are made for disable people what are they to do? Oh well I guess that is not your concern right because it does not affect you. In this case the officer could have simply escorted the lady to the exit; provisions MUST be made for disable people. In 1st world countries provisions are made with special access routes, elevators or people to assists or escort the people out the train terminal (travel assistance). The minister said that Government was restrained by various types of laws on what alterations could be done to the hub because it is deemed a heritage site, what rubbish Mr. Minister. In Avila, Spain they have improved accessibility for the disable making the historical city with medieval walls accessible, the entire city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a World Heritage Site and most museums, government buildings, transport networks and shopping centres have been modified. The city is very old and a lot more needs to be done but at least they made a start and the buildings in Amsterdam are much older than City Gate. Provide the people with proper training, facilities or assistance and these things will not happen. And to you JumbiesWatch , I am not disable but just pray that you or a family member would never experience being disable, maybe only then you will understand
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JumbiesWatch

103p 3 hours ago

-4

The issue of being disabled is independent and separate from the issue of breaking the law. Only a Monkey Islander would FAIL to see this. Pearls before swine again.
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AhTriniToo

96p 44 minutes ago

+1

Grande...thank God you understand because I DON'T!!

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LIKEME

13p 4 hours ago

+5

I hope to god you are not a trinidadian or have relatives who are Trinidadians then that will make you a monkey aswell
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JumbiesWatch

103p 3 hours ago

-3

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16/03/2012 16:23

Disabled woman plans legal action | Trinidad Express N...

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Perhaps you need to investigate the idea of what I refer to as Monkey Island. You assume I call you people 'monkeys'. Far from it. I refer to it as Monkey Island because it is a place like those 3 monkeys, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Justice and the law are blind deaf and dumb.
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AhTriniToo

96p 1 hour ago

+1

JUMBIES...ah don't usually do this...but...I'll call you out here one-on one! Firstly your sending mixed messages, is it or is it not? Since you are using the term "british time" I'll take that as your foreign. Having said that you my friend are the "Exact" thing I described a few days ago, and I'll repeat again for you...you can take some people out of Trinidad, but you can't take Trinidad out of them! How can you be so ignorant & insensitive of realistic rational thinking, given that you reside in a 1st world country, a leopard never changes its spots ehh?? People break the law everyday, I'm sure you are NO different! FYI she wasn't breaking any law, she was "requesting" an exemption "to be allowed", and since she wasn't the benefactor of being Polite....she decided to be a Pioneer, after all the article did say "Other Officers" allowed her to use the access way before. Read again and you'll be enlightened! When Ghandi went up against the British (your peeps) in his scrawny looking "Dhoti" dem say he was MAD, same as your doing with this young woman!! See what happened in the end?? Look up the word "Human Compassion" and then ask your self this question, would you watch a person with ONE (1) leg and direct them to walk 50 feet, when you could lend assistance by allowing them to only walk 50 yards?? What threat is there to "security" from a disabled person, and a small woman to boot, ehh?? Someday when you grow old and in need of a cane, maybe you'll understand and even remember, you might even ask for forgiveness. "This mentality is why the Rock remains Third World" Some people do take it with them...even if they are in a 1st world country, geh meh drift! "The officer asked if she saw the sign about restricted access" Thank god it wasn't an army base, but rather a "Public Transport Hub", otherwise you would have been advocating for her to be SHOT on site! I'll leave you with this little note my friend...."AS PEOPLE WE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE...ONE, AS A PERSON WE WILL FOREVER BE DIFFERENT!! One size DON'T always fit all!! You do have a more compassionate day.
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JumbiesWatch

103p 4 minutes ago

+1

Sigh... more moronic thinking. Let me explain to you slowly, in parts. First, this is not about me. I live in a First World, yes, and because of it I have the opportunity to see how a First World society and the law works. hence I can speak. Secondly, I am studying law. I can speak. Thirdly, I see idiocy and I have a right to express I see it. Now that we have that to one side, let's ge tto the 'crux' of your argument. realistic rational thinking? Where is it? You lot display a tiresome amount of emotive tripe but none whatsoever of actual rational thinking. The actual rational behind the law, no entry beyond a certain point is to prevent trespass, or more likely in this case, to prevent one or more morons from being a danger to themselves and putting themselves in harms way. This is why said urad/officer prevent moron in question from entering said restricted area. Stop thinking with your groin and start using your head! You think because she is ah awright looking oman with one leg, she deserves sympathy for dotishness? you certainly have no idea how the law works. Which is what I am trying to point out.

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16/03/2012 16:23

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People break the law everyday, I'm sure you are NO different! So? I am sure some get away with it too. It has nothing to do with THIS situation. She was caught attempting to breach a law. She is lucky her ar*e wasn't arrested, as I am sure it would be when in a First World country. However, if she (same oman) was actually in a First World country, bet your last cent she won't have even thought to do as she did. So is only on the Rock allyuh could get away with dotishness like that. she was "requesting" an exemption "to be allowed" More dotishness. No one has a 'right'' to request any exemption in law. The officer may have discretion but it is clear in this case the officer was well within the law, both in letter and spirit to act as she did. after all the article did say "Other Officers" allowed her to use the access way before. And they had discretion to do so, but at any time they could have stopped her or haul her ar*e to a Magistrate. Learn how the law works my friend. When Ghandi (Gandhi, by the way) went up against the British (your peeps) in his scrawny looking "Dhoti" dem say he was MAD... Totally irrelevant and not even close in similarity to the circumstances. Rock Logic at its best? Look up the word "Human Compassion"... I'm lumping the whole paragraph of nonsense together. What does 'human compassion' have to say when a maxi taxi runs over her for being in a restricted area? You who stoutly defend her stupidity here... will you be there to pay her medical bills if she survives? Will you contribute to her legal bills in suing the State? Or even the officer now? I think not. You display the same poor quality thinking skills I desire to see removed from the population of the country. it is only then you all will attempt to move into First World. Until then, you are merely unappreciative of the pearls I cast before you.
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109p 6 hours ago

ThatGuyTT

+8

Aren't all facilities supposed to be handicap accessible? So if this is the case, why bother with the officer sue the PTSC and/or the Maxi Taxi Assoc (who apparently have part ownership) for the lack of facilities.
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2 replies active 46 minutes ago

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trinilondon

76p 4 hours ago

+3

agree handicap ppl in trini is left on d bk burner...

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AhTriniToo

96p 46 minutes ago

+1

Back burner?? More like under the oven in the broiler compartment....hidden away and forgottenn about! Sadly!!
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86p 4 hours ago

Grandeman1

+1

I understand what you are saying but your comments are very insensitive. YES "only on Monkey Island" people like you will make statements like what you wrote above, "only on Monkey Island" a country will treat disable people like they are outcasts in our society. For too long disable people have been pleading for better conditions, if no facilities or provisions are made for disable people what are they to do? Oh well I guess that is not your concern right because it does not affect you. In this case the officer could have simply escorted the lady to the exit; provisions MUST be made for disable people. In 1st world countries provisions are made with special access routes, elevators or people to assists or escort the people out the train terminal (travel assistance). The minister said that Government was restrained by various types of laws on what alterations could be done to the hub because it is deemed a heritage site, what rubbish Mr. Minister. In Avila, Spain they have improved accessibility for the disable making the historical city with medieval walls accessible, the entire city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a World Heritage Site and most museums, government buildings, transport networks and shopping centres have been modified. The city is very old and a lot more needs to be done but at least they made a start and the

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buildings in Amsterdam are much older than City Gate. Provide the people with proper training, facilities or assistance and these things will not happen
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13p 4 hours ago

LIKEME

+1

Being handicap is one thing, I do sympathise with you, but you have to remember the officer was just doing her duty. God forbid something happened to you in that restricted area, wouldnt the officer on duty be blamed and her job would have been on the line. Never the less it is rediculous that there are no secure passage ways for handicaps in City Gate our main city. PITTY........
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3 replies active 38 minutes ago

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Grandeman1

86p 3 hours ago

+4

If no provisions are made what would you recommend? The officer could have escorted her to a safe area . Provisions need to be made not only for disable people in T&T but for senior citizens and pregnant women. Those stairs in City Gate is a killer and I feel sorry for disable, senior citizens and pregnant women who have to walk u and down those stairs.
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JumbiesWatch

103p 3 hours ago

-3

idiotic argument at it's worse. Only Third World logic will assume it is the officer's duty to 'escort' people.
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AhTriniToo

96p 38 minutes ago

+1

Jumbie...like 1st world getting to yuh head, where does Grande say its the officer's "DUTY". you know what happens when you a-s-s-u-m-e...?? Your mentality shines bright like the "Rock Sun" for all to see!!
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nahboi

109p 3 hours ago

This maximan is one of the most arrogant trolls who works the PBR, he is rude, unfriendly and callous, I remember him demanding that a passenger get out of his maxi because she was dropping out at an early stop and not taking the full ride to La Horquetta. On mornings he picks and chooses who he wants to ride in his maxi and if you do not get in quick enough pray that he doesn't pull off with you either standing halfway into the maxi or with the door in your hand. When you want special treatment for your relatives you should know that it is a two way street and you should treat your passengers with courtesy and repsect
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83p 1 hour ago

HOT4so

+1

What a nasty piece of work that police woman is, how could she see someone in this condition and continue to deny her entry and to top it off be physically abusive to her as well?? what a beast! Proper facilities should be in place for differently-abled people to begin with only when that happens can you expect people to abide by the law.
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1 reply active 34 minutes ago

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AhTriniToo

96p 34 minutes ago

+1

ENT!!! If that was my sister ah would ah run up dey and buss she muddaC!! This lady should go back again and have someone tape the idiot and let this nastiness be known to the world!
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96p 28 minutes ago

AhTriniToo

+1

MESSAGE TO THE DISABLED CHAPTER PRESIDENT......get your base together and get ah voter registration drive going....be your own

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advocate for change.....let them IDIOTS earn your votes....let your voices be heard!! Become the movement for your own change! You all must be at least 75,000-100,000 strong, and then throw in the family members. EXCISE & ENFORCE your democratic rights to get what should be mandatory for all you guys!!
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