BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THERE seems no limit to LIME’s commitment to the social development of the nation, as two of the Federation’s largest associations for persons living with disabilities were given special mobile phones to suit the needs of their members.
Representatives from the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities and the St. Kitts Society for the Blind felt LIME’s community presence in a tangible way yesterday (Jun. 29) as they left the company’s Cayon Street flagship store with 10 new mobile phones each.
The official handing-over ceremony was very brief, but the donation is expected to have a lasting impact on both organizations as LIME provided for those living with disabilities.
LIME Corporate Communications Manager Laverne Caines said the donation came at the end of a lengthy research period to find a phone suitable to the needs of the physically challenged and visually impaired. She noted that this donation demonstrates the company’s interest in providing service for all.
“We have been searching several months now to get a mobile phone that could suit the needs of these members.... We’ve finally found an instrument that can be given free of cost to the members of these two associations.
“The phones are suitable for the purposes of persons who are challenged visually. We are very happy that having heard the requests that each of these associations made to us privately and publicly, we can today make this presentation on behalf of LIME.”
The associations were given boxes of Telstra Easycall, a perfect phone for elderly and disabled members of the family. Among other things, the phone features large buttons and screen fonts that make it easier to dial and read messages. It also has a simple menu structure, audible keys, a speaker phone, an FM radio, flashlight, and a dedicated key lock slider-switch.
The phone has long battery life and the ability to pre-programme a favourite number and up to four SMS numbers, which allows the operator to contact family and friends at the flick of a switch.
Rockliffe Bowen, President of the St. Kitts Society for the Blind, was excited about the company’s gesture seeking to offer services to the visually impaired. He said the donation is well-received and praised LIME for its genuine interest in community development.
“I want to take this opportunity to express sincere thanks to LIME for this presentation. I know it’s going to be very well-received by our members.... For those persons who are going to be recipients of these phones, I’m asking you to cherish them and continue to serve LIME because they are doing a very great job in terms of meeting our needs and, in fact, making life more meaningful to persons who are blind and visually impaired living in our community,” he said responding to the donation on behalf of his organization.
In its recent facelift of the retail outlet, LIME included ramp access to allow disabled individuals to conduct business in the comfort of the building. This, coupled with the donation of the special phones, has been cause for celebration for Anthony Mills, President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities.
“Let me also express thanks to LIME for being such a kind and considerate corporate citizen and these phones would go a long way in helping our members. It is with some foresight that LIME came to our assistance because we have been asking for a while and now LIME has seen it fit to come to our assistance and aid the members.
“The ramp is also an important addition to LIME because if more businesses will follow suit it will make it much better,” Mills said to a gathering of media practitioners yesterday.
General Manager David Lake thanked the representatives for their patience and loyalty to LIME during the waiting period. Lake handed over the phones to the organizations as a symbol of continued partnership in LIME’s agenda of community development.
