Category: Latest News

CCB Congratulates the Government and People of Antigua and Barbuda on Hosting the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

The President, Board and members of the Caribbean Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired extend high commendations to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the wider Government, and the people of Antigua and Barbuda, on the country’s hosting of the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference. The series of meetings will take place in St. Johns November 1st to 4th. In a Briefing session with CCB Media, Mr Persad commented that, the meeting of Commonwealth Heads in Antigua-Barbuda is an indication of the country’s increasing influence in global affairs. The President of Council, told CCB Media that, the meeting of Commonwealth …

Caribbean Optometrists Population Ranking – October 2026 – Jamaica, Belize, Bahamas from bottom Trinidad 1st, Guyana 2nd, Barbados 3rd from Top

CARIBBEAN COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED Celebrating the 26th anniversary of World Sight Day while serving the Caribbean for more than 59 years – Sept. 1967 to present First Semi-annual Ranking of Optometrists to Population, English-speaking Caribbean Arvel.grant@eyecarecaribbean.com. Advancing WHA resolution A74/9: integrated people-centered eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness. 1. Introduction Noting the 26th annual celebration of World Sight Day, the following table ranks the ratio of optometrists to population in countries of the English-speaking Caribbean. We included the United Kingdom as a benchmark indicator. Around the world, optometrists are recognized as the primary providers …

THE CARIBBEAN COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COVID19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM – BULLETIN # 2 (August 2020)

This meeting was convened against the backdrop of the extra-ordinary: social, political and economic challenges, presented by a pandemic operating in tandem with the tropical hurricane season. Members noted the often (dire) situation of people living with special needs and opined the catastrophic effect which COVID-19 and an active hurricane season could have on an already vulnerable segment of the population.

This bulletin is the product of a series of zoom-based meetings which first convened at 2:00 PM on Friday July 3rd 2020 (Eastern Caribbean time) and supplemented by a number of written submissions including COVID related actions advanced by the World Blind Union.

CCB extends condolences to the family, friends and associates of William “Bill” Lightbourne

On behalf of our President Kerryann Ifill (of Barbados), The Members of the Executive Committee and the wider membership of the Caribbean Council for the Blind, I extend condolences to the family, friends and associates of William “Bill” Lightbourne. I first heard about Bill on a development visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands close to three decades ago. Everywhere I went (from Grand Turk to Provo) people told me about Bill Lightbourne. When I asked to meet him, they told me that he was a “Son of the Turks” but he was doing great works in the Bahamas. When …

World Blind Union Press Release: International Women’s Day 2016

   World Blind Union Press Release: International Women’s Day 2016 Toronto, March 8th, 2016: International Women’s Day encourages us all to reflect on the importance of gender equality, to celebrate the successes of women, and to acknowledge the work that is still left to be done. “With women making up more than 50% of the world’s population and often being the main link for the family and connection to the community, there remains a great deal of work to be done to ensure equal rights in all aspects of life,” says WBU Immediate Past President and Chair of the International …

Health Minister lauds work of CCB/Eye Care Caribbean

St John’s Antigua – Dec. 18, 2014 : Vision 2020 “the right to sight” (the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness) was the focus of a two day meeting, held in St. Lucia last week. It brought together, health officials from 14 CARICOM (Caribbean Community) member states as well as international organizations from Latin America, the United States and the United Kingdom, to discussed matters related to eye health including treatment and management of: Cataract, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Refractive Errors and Childhood blindness. The 2-day meeting , held at the Bay Gardens Hotel was declared open by Hon. …

Caribbean Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired lauds success of CXC students

St John’s Antigua, Sept. 2, 2014: Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Arvel Grant has congratulated the students from the Guyana Society for the Blind who set a record with 82.4 percent pass rate in subjects from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). “One year ago during a visit to Guyana I had the privilege of visiting with a very enthusiastic group of students with visual impairment; as they attended classes, preparing to sit the CXC exams. They were all very enthusiastic about their future and the opportunity to further their education I am …

Antigua & Barbuda is the 6th Member of CARICOM to Include Refractionists in its Eye Health Programme

Since their inception six months ago, the 3 community vision centres, staffed by 4 Refractionists (which are being implemented under a joint partnership between the Government of Antigua-Barbuda and CCB-Eye Care Caribbean) have examined over 7,000 patients and prescribed over 3,000 spectacles to those requiring visual-aid.   Chief Executive Officer, Arvel Grant, expects that the programme will continue to grow, noting that expansion plans includes the setting up of six new Vision centres across Antigua & Barbuda. He said those students and elderly who required further attention and could not afford the cost of their glasses, received their spectacles free.