‘If that’s how you treat people, I’ll take my cash elsewhere’

A VISUALLY-impaired man has decided against moving to Guernsey because local provision for his condition is simply not good enough.

Michael Lindsay, 35, was planning to buy an open market house for his future retirement. But he was so shocked by the lack of social support for people with visual impairments, that he decided against the move.

‘It seems absolutely disgusting that it just doesn’t seem to be recognised as a disability. The help available in Jersey is the same as in the UK, so I’ll be looking to put my hard-earned cash into that island instead,’ said the husband and father.

‘There is no disability allowance, public transport is not [further] subsidised and facilities are not user-friendly if you are visually impaired. I find it all absolutely disgusting.’

Health minister Hunter Adam was surprised by Mr Lindsay’s comments and said that Health and Social Services definitely considered blindness and visual impairment to be disabilities.(from CIonline)

I back Hunter Adam I am sure he is right in this case,

What gets me if Mr Lindsay is rich enough to buy an open market property why should he expect a disability allowance as soon as he steps onto the Island?

I mean he has not paid a single thing into the Social fund, and expects benefits as soon as he comes here.. errr sorry no way in my books...

Our town is certainly not very friendly for the disabled at all..most shops you cannot even get into if you are in a wheel chair .
And the toilets for the disabled are terrible[only good one is in the market]
shopping on the bridge is easier for some ,but like most shops they put too much in the shops and make it impossible to go in and mooch around with out knocking stuff off the shelves

i totally agree that guernsey streets and shops are not disability friendly.lowered kerbs would help for wheelchair users as would having ramps into shops and lift facilities to move around between floors.even if it was the staff lift being offered for that purpose.as to benefits thereis only one extra benefit available to people with disabilities.that is attendance allowance.to be in receipt of that you need to be being cared for for as far as personal hygeine,dressing,safety, feeding etc.a carer receives invalid care allowance if they care for the person in receipt of AA for a minimum of 40 hours a week.that is paid at the princely sum of approximately £65 a week.

so Mr Lindsay had a very very good reason then and was correct in his slating of Gsy plc???

I'm with you, GD, on this case.
Yes , we could do a hell of a lot more to aid disabled people, but why should a person from outside our island just turn up and be looked after by our money?
He cites public transport subsidy........ffs, get a card, 30p a trip, is that pricey?
I have to say that yes, for visualy impaired people, guernsey is NOT very well organised, but we are a little island after all, still in the "old world", and that is the way it will be, for many years to come.

steve 19 wrote:I'm with you, GD, on this case.
Yes , we could do a hell of a lot more to aid disabled people, but why should a person from outside our island just turn up and be looked after by our money?
He cites public transport subsidy........ffs, get a card, 30p a trip, is that pricey?
I have to say that yes, for visualy impaired people, guernsey is NOT very well organised, but we are a little island after all, still in the "old world", and that is the way it will be, for many years to come.

Well steve19 I am shocked that you could blatantly and openly discriminate against those with disabilities. I was a Day Service Officer for Adults with Learning Disabilities for 13 years and I saw prejudice from people towards all members of our community with any form of disability, it shocked me and continues to shock me that this ignorance is still prevent in Gsy and I moved on from that fantastic profession in 96.

Mr Lindsay was right in raising these service deficiencies he was not just representing his own views but hundreds of parents, those who advocate for people with a disability and of course those with a disability here in Guernsey. Perhaps you should take up some volunteer work at Cheshire Homes this may change your attitude. Look beyond Mr Lindsay being an outsider and look at the bigger picture……..

I agree we should put disabled folks first,as we never know when a disability will know on our own door.
We must help all those who are unable to help themselves ...
The buses have ramps that lower for the disabled,but out town lest them down as there are a limit to what shops they can go into

I wouldn't say Steve was discriminating against ppl with disabilities at all.......

Thats not how i read it .....

Why should ppl come over... who can afford to buy open market properties and expect our social services to support them.....when even our locals aren't looked after as they should be.....


I also agree that Guernsey does not cater well for disabled users...
This has become more apparent to me over the last few years...
I hate to say but Jersey seem to have got it right....

I can't make out what this man is bleating about. No-one is forcing him to move over here. Is he planning to write to the media of every other jurisdiction in the world saying why he won't be moving there?

Mr Lindsay has a choice! some locals do not! lets put the money where it is needed most, and thats not an easy thing to decide. Real leaders need BALLS !

What, like Margaret Thatcher.....?





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Spirit wrote:I can't make out what this man is bleating about. No-one is forcing him to move over here. Is he planning to write to the media of every other jurisdiction in the world saying why he won't be moving there?

Maybe not, but remember you are an Island which tries to atract visitors on holiday to boost your economy. Being a mobility scooter user I have to say that Guernsey is not that easy to get around.

In fact if it wasn't for the fact that I was coming to Guernsey long before becoming dis-abled and love the place, I would probably be put off from coming again.

So please consider the wider picture.

http://www.zyra.org.uk/taxhaven.htm






Above is a link
to other tax havens, If you are not happy with Guernsey please feel free to take
your money elsewhere as Guernsey will survive without you!