This life story challenges us to abandon clichés and stereotypes. Being blind does not mean being condemned to isolation and sadness. Disabilities can awaken hidden resources, particularly when we recognise the needs of a whole group of people. At the time of the interview, Senator Floyd Morris was President of the Senate of Jamaica.
Your Excellency, thank you very much for accepting my invitation.
The pleasure is all mine.
If you were asked to introduce yourself in just a few words, how would you describe yourself?
My name is Floyd Morris. I am a Christian from Jamaica, the beautiful island in the Caribbean. I was born into a modest family, and I am now the President of the Jamaican Senate.
Could you tell us more about your early life?
I had a normal childhood. Like other boys my age, I enjoyed playing football and cricket. Despite the poverty, I had a wonderful life. At the age of 13, however, I developed glaucoma, which caused me to lose my sight completely by the age of 20.
Was your family overwhelmed by poverty, or were you financially independent?
A bit of both. I was raised by a single parent as my father had emigrated to Canada, so my mother, a seamstress, had to take care of me. She worked hard to support us, and although we sometimes struggled financially, we never needed financial assistance from anyone else.
Do you remember any religious influences from your childhood?
Yes. My family attended a church called the Church of God, where my grandfather was a deacon. My mother made sure that I attended Sunday school every week. I started going to church from a young age, and that’s where I developed my social skills. We were tested on the Bible stories, so we had to study the Bible. This meant that I became familiar with Bible stories at an early age.
Do you think this has influenced your outlook on life?
Definitely. Christianity occupies a very significant place in Jamaican society. There is a lot of diversity. Religious values are highly valued in Jamaican society.
Now, let’s go back to when you developed glaucoma at the age of 13. Is this disease common among children?
It isn’t. When I was diagnosed with glaucoma, the doctor told me that I was the youngest patient he had ever diagnosed with the disease. However, glaucoma was the leading cause of blindness at that time. There are 30,000–40,000 blind people in Jamaica.
How did you feel when you found out? Were you told that you could lose your sight?
I was told that if I did not keep my eye pressure under control, I would eventually lose my sight. The prospect of going blind at that age devastated me. I was anxious and upset. Sometimes I felt depressed, but I’m a fighter, so I didn’t give up.
What do you mean by “not giving up”?
I refused to let this problem get me down. I wanted to continue my studies. When I developed glaucoma in ninth grade, I continued to go to school until I graduated from high school.
When you knew you were going to lose your sight, did you try to enjoy it as much as possible by reading more, playing more football and cricket, or doing more of the things you enjoyed?
Initially, I didn’t worry about it; I wasn’t consumed by the idea of going blind. I was in denial. I didn’t realise or accept that my eyesight was deteriorating and that I would eventually lose my sight completely. So I behaved as I had before, but eventually, complete blindness became a reality.
What happened after that? You said you were 20 years old.
It was a very traumatic experience. I was very discouraged. I was 20 years old and in the prime of my life. At that time, I was unaware of the possibilities available to blind people. None of my acquaintances were aware that, thanks to advances in modern technology, such a person could lead a normal life in society. I thought I would need a caregiver to feed me, wash my clothes, and help me with the things I couldn’t do myself.
What made you not give up? Where did you find the strength to keep going?
My mother helped me a lot. I also had the support of my older brother and sisters , and all my other relatives. Their support gave me a glimmer of hope. However, as they had not been trained to support blind people, they could only help me in certain ways. Things changed when I left Saint Mary’s to attend courses for blind people at the Jamaican Society for the Blind in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. There, I learnt to read and write in Braille, as well as how to navigate the city independently using a white cane. I took part in revision courses and typing courses, and then enrolled at Mico College. There, I resumed my studies in night school and took exams to secure a place at the University of the West Indies.
I realised that I could get around independently and that I could go to college to become an accountant or a radio producer, as I had wanted all along, so I was very happy.
What field of study did you choose?
I studied mass media communication.
Do you remember when you became interested in working in the media?
While I was at Saint Mary’s and beginning to lose my sight, I often listened to Dorraine Samuels’ show on a local radio station. I loved her show—she was a great speaker. One day, I called the show and spoke with her. She explained how I could become a radio broadcaster, and her words sparked my interest. She told me that other blind people worked in radio and referred me to the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication. She also advised me to join the Jamaican Society for the Blind, so that I would have the necessary support to cope with my loss of sight.
I wonder if Ms Samuels ever found out what remarkable results her advice had?
Absolutely. We keep in touch and are good friends.
I currently host a radio show that addresses issues related to people with disabilities and the elderly from different perspectives. This gives me the opportunity to practise my desired profession.
Did you start working in the media after your studies?
No, I didn’t. I became interested in politics when, after graduating from the University of the West Indies, I enrolled in a Master’s programme in Administrative Sciences and joined a local branch of the People’s National Party. Over time, I was appointed a senator in 1998, becoming the first blind person to enter the Jamaican parliament.
In 2001, I became Secretary of State, a position I held until 2007 when my party lost the election. When we won the election in 2011, I was reappointed to that position and also became President of the Senate.
I am not familiar with Jamaica’s political system. You said you were appointed senator. Are members of the Senate not elected by popular vote?
Jamaica uses the Westminster system. Its legislature is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House of Representatives are elected in 63 electoral districts. The Senate, meanwhile, consists of 21 members who are appointed based on recommendations from the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.
What is the difference between the two chambers of Parliament?
The House of Representatives drafts laws and adopts the budget. The Senate is also known as the Upper House. Senators examine all laws drafted by the lower house to ensure they do not violate any constitutional provisions. However, senators can also draft laws.
What would you most like to achieve during your time in this important public position?
In Jamaica, people with disabilities, who make up around 15% of the population, are not widely discussed. During my time as a senator, I focused my attention on these issues and played a key role in negotiating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Jamaica became the first country to ratify this convention in 2007.
The fact that you are involved in improving legislation brings you a great deal of satisfaction. In practical terms, do you believe that the lives of these people have actually improved as a result of the legislation you introduced?
Improving the lives of disabled people is an ongoing process, and we are now adopting the necessary legislation. Over time, we will see improvements in the lives of disabled people. We have not yet achieved our goals, but I am confident that, within 10–15 years, once our improved legislation is fully implemented, society will have transformed in terms of these people’s rights.
In education, does the legislation favour a specialised education system for persons with disabilities or the inclusion of these persons in mainstream schools?
The law favours their enrolment in mainstream schools, while also allowing, on an exceptional basis, specialised training for people with multiple disabilities. Educational institutions are required by law to provide persons with disabilities with the necessary training, which includes not only physical access, but also the opportunity to learn sign language, use modern technology and read Braille.
As a well-known figure on the political scene, are you aware that you have had an impact on the lives of certain people?
Of course. When I travel around the country, people tell me, “My church members and I admire you very much.” Many young people tell me, “You are my hero!” They want to keep in touch, so they visit my Facebook page or contact me in other ways. And it’s not just people with disabilities.
You have referred several times to the modern technology that helps you interact with those around you.
There are many speech synthesis applications designed to help blind and visually impaired people, such as Job Access with Speech (JAWS) and NonVisual Desktop Access. I use the JAWS application. This means that I can use all the programmes in Microsoft Office: I can write documents in Word and use Excel. I can also communicate with other people via email, Facebook, and Twitter.
Were the emails you sent me this morning written by you?
I handle my own correspondence.
At one point, your spiritual life underwent some changes.
All of my life’s successes are due to the fact that I embraced the Adventist faith during this period. This happened in an unusual way. While I was living in Saint Mary’s, lots of people came to my house to pray together. I remember some of them telling me that I must have committed a very serious sin because I had lost my sight. Their words caused me a great deal of pain.
One of my sisters worked at the hospital and knew an Adventist nurse. She came to my house, where we prayed and studied the Bible together. She encouraged me greatly, saying, “Floyd, even though you are visually impaired, I want you to know that God loves you.” I started attending the Adventist church in Port Mary. However, I then had to leave Saint Mary and go to Kingston. Nevertheless, God’s plan was for me to join the Adventist Church. I started taking classes at the Jamaican Society for the Blind. A woman named Jacqueline Dawes contacted the organisation after hearing about my situation, offering her support. When I spoke to her, she told me that she was an Adventist and invited me to attend her church. Her whole family was very supportive. Meeting these people made me want to dedicate my life completely to Christ in December 1991.
How has your decision to follow God and trust in Him influenced your involvement in public life in Jamaica?
I am guided by principles, and these principles come from the Bible. Honesty is one of the principles that guide my life. I began my political career in 1998, and to this day, no one has questioned my integrity. I have not been involved in any illegal activity. The fact that I was appointed President of the Senate shows that people see me as impartial and fair. I love my fellow human beings and Jamaica, and I want to see this country transformed into a modern democratic society. The principles of my spiritual life, which also come from the Bible, help me when I participate in public debates and adopt policies. Thanks to these principles, I have gained the trust of Jamaica’s Prime Minister and other political leaders. I have a very good relationship with all of them, and I thank God for that.
Are Jamaica’s political leaders aware of your religious beliefs?
Absolutely. I talk to them about my faith. I am happy to do so—I am not ashamed of my faith.
Have you ever found yourself in situations where biblical teachings conflicted with the expectations of those around you, particularly those who appointed you to this position?
When such situations arise, everyone knows what my beliefs are. Before the 2011 elections, for example, I was the campaign manager for one of the candidates. I remember there being concerns that, as an Adventist, I would not be able to participate in events held on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Friday and Saturday are, of course, the most important days during an election campaign. No pressure was put on me or the candidate I was supporting. He won the election.
This brings our discussion to a happy conclusion, paving the way for another discussion on this topic at a later date. Thank you!
