Naomi Lewakita  says she feels included by the 2013 Constitution.

The Fiji School of the Blind student was excited and emotional after she read a message at the first Constitution Day celebrations at Albert Park Pavilion and Grounds yesterday. The highlight of the celebrations was when she and other students read passages from the preamble of the 2013 Constitution.

“I was so emotional when I read out the preamble of the Constitution in Braille because this is the first time that children like us are given the opportunity to participate in one of Fiji’s historic events,” she said.

“I feel so important and proud of myself that despite being blind, I manage to stand before people and read that part of the Constitution,” she said.

The Year 11 student thanked the Government for introducing the Braille version of the Constitution.

New era

“I feel part of the society now. Before, I felt that we were discriminated and today marked a new era for people living with disabilities.

“I believe that people with disabilities have what it takes to change the society and today is the testimony of that.

“Today will go down in history as I am the first visually impaired student to read the preamble of Fiji’s Constitution in the first ever Constitution Day,” she said.

She brought to life the real meaning of the text she read:

“A person with any disability has the right…

to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information;

to use sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of communication; and to reasonable access to necessary materials, substances and devices relating to the person’s disability.

A person with any disability has the right to reasonable adaptation of buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, working arrangements, rules, practices or procedures, to enable their full participation in society and the effective realisation of their rights.”

Her head teacher, Sofia Waqanidrola, said the event was an opportunity for them to show their potential and make them feel they were part of society and not left out.

Naomi, originally from Nayavu, Ra, has been visually impaired since birth.

Ms Waqanidrola said it was an occasion for her student to show their potential and made them feel part of the society in a sense they aren’t left out.

President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote said what Naomi did was inspiring.

He said Fiji made a special effort to take everyone on board forward on the new journey which included people with disabilities.

“And we are determined as a nation that, as far as possible, disability should be no barrier to advancement, our first paralympian gold medalist Honorable Iliesa Delana is now our Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports,” he said.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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