Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the government has spent $62 million from the 2016/2017 financial year to the 2020/2021 financial year to assist persons with disabilities, however we cannot get everything done in just a year or two.
While speaking in the debate on the Review of the Performance Audit on the Access for Persons with Disabilities to Public Offices and Public Transport tabled in August 2021, Sayed-Khaiyum says obviously the audit done by the Office of the Auditor-General does not carry much merit when there has been about 100 years of neglect.
However SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula says the government is missing the point raised by the Office of the Auditor-General in their report of the Performance Audit on the Access for Persons with Disabilities to Public Offices and Public Transport.
Nawaikula adds the Office of the Auditor-General is concerned that despite signing the different conventions, the government has failed to implement them on the ground.
He says this morning, he caught the bus from 10 miles and as he entered the bus he could not see the necessary facilities for people that have disabilities.
Nawaikula says the government cannot be saying that all of the things are being implemented now because they are already on the last lap of their term and this should have been done before.
Minister for Transport Faiyaz Koya says the Performance Audit on the Access for Persons with Disabilities was undertaken by the Office of the Auditor General to understand the current activities and suggest improvements to the processes and systems in place however what the report fails to specify is whether all the functioning challenges restrict a person from using public transportation or having access to public information.
Koya says such performance reports by the Office of the Auditor General lack objectivity and many times a purpose and they did not undertake a performance review assessment with an open and objective mind.
Koya says the report fails to acknowledge steps taken by the government to have information readily available to all citizens of Fiji.
He says it identifies gaps in terms of coverage of Section 29 of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2018 however, Section 29 provides broad coverage in terms of accessibility.
Koya says there are certain recommendations within the Standing Committee Report that they acknowledge and as the ministry responsible for transport they have taken on board and are addressing issues.
He says he is personally working with the Land Transport Authority and MSAF to ensure that the appropriate changes are made to the respective legislations to mirror the accessibility provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2018.
Koya says this is being done right now and is a large task, but it is being done.
He says the report criticizes the lack of public buildings having accessibility for persons with disability.
Koya says whilst it is considered that over a decade ago proper considerations were not being given by the approving authorities on the inclusion of disability provisions in the building developments, greater efforts have been made and continue to be made by the Department of Town and Country Planning, especially since 2019.
He says it is also important to acknowledge that some of the recent building developments have disability provisions like the Damodar City Complex, Rups Mega Complex and the Tappoos City buildings in Suva and Lautoka.
Koya says the report has failed to acknowledge the reforms and the changes that have been undertaken by the Fijian Government over the years.
He says the FijiFirst government has worked on improving the standards of living for all Fijians so we will never deny anybody their right and so Fiji today is much better place than what it was in over a decade ago.
Meanwhile National Federation Party MP, Lenora Qereqeretabua says in the 2020-2021 National Budget, the Ministry of Housing budget was cut which resulted in Habitat for Humanity losing their half a million dollar grant.
Qereqeretabua says cutting the budget meant at that time and still means now that people living with disabilities will continue to be prisoners in their own homes.
She further says providing this assistance to families that live with persons with disabilities also focuses on the carers who are mostly women and young adults and they will not get to live their lives normally because inevitably the job of being a caregiver would fall on their shoulders.
Qereqeretabua further says she believes the second-hand vessels that are being brought in by ship owners to be used as passenger vessels are just not disability friendly and to make them so would mean a huge outlay for the shipping owners.
She says this is something for perhaps MSAF to think about.
Qereqeretabua adds access for people using wheelchairs up the stairs in front of the Parliament Complex is not available and there is no notice for people who might want to come to their House that access can be gained from going around the back past the front door to the Prime Minister’s Office.
She says putting up a sign might be something they could think about.
She also acknowledged the work the National Council for Persons with Disabilities does and invites the Members of the Parliament to make an appointment and visit the Council’s Head Office.
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