Next Monday’s Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, David Thompson, and the Reply by Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley, on Tuesday, May 19, both beginning at 3:30 p.m., will also be presented in sign language on CBC TV8.
This will be the second year that the Budget and Reply will be done in sign language. The presentations and interpretation will be carried simultaneously through picture in picture (PIP) display.
According to a government official, this would ensure that persons with a hearing disability would be able to comprehend the proceedings on television. "It is important that the hearing impaired have access to an important national debate and are not disadvantaged because of their challenge or language barrier," she said.
The Budget presentation will commence at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, with the ensuing debate on Tuesday, May 19, starting at 10:00 a.m. It will conclude on Wednesday night, May 20. The proceedings will also be carried live on radio.