Exclusion of sign language from political debates ‘must not be repeated’
Deaf advocate critical of commission as JDC pledges to work on securing acceptable arrangement
Published:Monday | August 25, 2025 | 12:11 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
Deaf advocates are livid and are taking the Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) to task after last Saturday’s national election debate on social issues – the first of three events – went ahead without Jamaica Sign Language (JSL) interpretation. Sign language advocates argue that thousands of deaf and hearing-impaired Jamaicans were excluded from accessing critical information that directly affects their lives, and ability to make informed decisions at the polls.
In a release on Sunday, the JDC said, beginning in May, it had been engaging various organisations representing the deaf and hearing-impaired community to secure interpreter services for the debate. JDC said, however, that despite those efforts, which continued up until less than four hours before the debate, no arrangement could be finalised.
The commission added that it was committed to ensuring sign language interpretation at future debates, and pledged to continue making every effort to secure an acceptable arrangement.
Sign Clubs of Jamaica, a national association representing the deaf community, said the explanation offered at the start of Saturday’s debate – that interpretation could not be provided due to circumstances “beyond the commission’s control” – was insufficient and unacceptable.
“While we note this explanation, the exclusion of the deaf community from such a critical democratic exercise must not be repeated, as accessibility cannot be treated as optional,” the organisation said in a statement.
The group stressed that deaf citizens form part of Jamaica’s voting population, and have the same rights to information as every other Jamaican. Without interpretation, they noted, thousands were denied the opportunity to follow discussions on social issues – matters that shape national policy and community life.
Deeply concerned
Founder and Executive Director of Sign Clubs of Jamaica, Zantaye Thomas, told The Gleaner that she was deeply concerned when she realised there was no JSL interpreter present at what she described as an important national debate.
She added: “Based on social media comments I’ve seen, and persons I’ve spoken with, many other Jamaicans were also concerned and disappointed as well.”
Stressing that the absence of an interpreter meant deaf and hearing-impaired Jamaicans could not fully engage with, or understand the parties’ positions on key social issues, Thomas said these inclusivity hiccups were “making it harder for them to make an informed voting decision”.
Thomas further argued that Saturday night’s blunder was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader problem. She noted that accessibility for the deaf and hearing-impaired was too often treated as optional rather than essential, a situation, the advocate says, which highlights the need for stricter policies and greater accountability.
The Disabilities Act, passed in 2014 and brought into effect in February 2022, falls under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Through its implementing agency, the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, the act mandates the promotion, protection and equal enjoyment of rights by persons with disabilities.
The absence of interpretation during such a high-profile debate raises questions about whether these legal protections are being fully enforced, as voices on social media have chimed in, expressing disappointment over Saturday’s unfolding.
Looking ahead, Thomas said Sign Clubs of Jamaica will continue to push for inclusion.
“As a youth-led association, we will continue advocating for the rights of the deaf by raising awareness, sharing our views and nurturing a generation of young people who value deaf culture and language,” she said, adding that the group’s long-term goal is to help increase the number of qualified interpreters so that deaf Jamaicans are fully included in every sphere of society.
With two debates remaining, the organisation has urged the JDC to prioritise accessibility by ensuring qualified JSL interpreters are visible on-screen, and included in all official broadcasts.
“This is not only a matter of compliance with disability rights, but also of respect for deaf citizens’ right to make informed decisions as active participants in Jamaica’s democracy,” Sign Clubs of Jamaica declared, adding that Jamaica’s democracy is strongest “when every voice matters, and every citizen has equal access to information”.