Old public transport 'imprisoned' people with mobility impairment for 50 years - KNPD chairman

Joe Camilleri, chairman of National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD), said: “until the introduction of the new bus service, a vast number of people with severe mobility impairment have been ‘prisoners’ to system and prevented from using the old transport system".

21 July 2011, 12:00am
by Franica Pulis

2 min read

He added: "Unfortunately, for many, many years Maltese society did not heed our repeated and insistent demands for an accessible and inclusive service”. Therefore, we now remain hopeful that the new service will indeed increase our mobility, choices and general quality of life. We are also hopeful that the problems which have arisen in this initial, transitional phase will be swiftly and positively addressed and this includes problems with timetabling and routing.”

Asked if the Commission received any complaints about the bus service in general, Camilleri replied: “We have received less than 10 comments about the new bus service. These have focused mainly on a desire for reduced fares for disabled users, in line with fare reductions for elderly people and students. We have received some complaints about problems of accessibility with some of the new bus stops. These and other issues are being followed up by KNPD. We have also received a number of positive comments about the improved accessibility of the new buses and the polite and helpful behaviour of the drivers.”

Camilleri added, “At this early stage KNPD needs to be in possession of all the facts before it can definitely decide whether to take action, or not. As soon as we have the facts in hand we will decide either way.”

More from Franica Pulis

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With regards the case of Emanuel Cini, the disabled man from Cospicua who is on this sixth day of hunger strike asking for Austin Gatt’s resignation due to the inefficient service of the public transport, Camilleri said that “KNPD takes action on many issues which fall under the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act of 2000. This happens when a disabled person approaches KNPD and requests assistance. So far Mr Cini has not done this, but has decided to take action on his own as he saw fit. It would be very difficult to interpret the change of bus routes mentioned in the article link you sent me as discrimination on the basis of disability.” OH NO? WHAT ARE THEY THEN? RHE KNPD IS THE MOST USELESS ORGANISATION IN THE WORLD. MICE USELESS MAGS YOU SEND ME. FROM POST BOX TO BIN. I TAKE MY ACTION ALONE YES AS I AM AN INDEPENDENT PERSON. OR WAS ONE TILL THE NEW BUSES ARRIVED. DISABILITY COMES IN MORE FORMS THAN A WHEELCHAIR!!!!

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Ghandi kemm ircevejt email minghand mara anzjana ta' 81 sena. Riedet tmur ghal nuccali B'Kara u ma tistax, jekk ma ssibx min iwassalha. Din ghandha disabilita` ? Forsi mhux fuq il-kotba tal-KNPD ? U taf kemm ferhet li serrhilha rasha li kollox sew Joe Camilleri !!!!!

Abdullah alhrbi •

I think the real issue is the bus routes. What is the point of having accessible buses when the bus routes can prove to be just as big an impediment for mobility. It is not a question of wheelchair use only I thought there was a broader definition to disability than that e.g. think of the number of hours of orientation training a visually impaired person would require to get to grips with the new transport routes, they may also have to factor in that in some cases they will not reach their destination at all. There are other aspects to consider. Mobility problems are not simply a matter of getting on or off a bus or having an Ac on only. A good number of citizens may not be on the disability register or get a disability pension but non the less they have problems with mobility due to illness or old age. Up to the change in the bus routes they have been more or less independent. Now it's becoming an ordeal for diabetics, those with hypertension, arthritis, asthma, epilepsy etc , as well as for patients who have to visit MaterDei regularly for out patients. What is becoming clear is that this cohort of public transport users are losing their independence because the inconsistent and markedly longer journeys are taking their toll on their health. They,are the least likely group in need of further stress in their lives. I suggest the KNPD spare a thought in their direction.

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http://andrewazzopardi.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/40000-disabled-people-at-the-crossroad/ KNPD needs to get its act together

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Guz Ghalfejn se ggib miljun skuza biex taqbez ghal persuna bhas Sur Cini? Thossok skomdu tikkritika illum?

Paul Sammut •

@ j. brincat. Din tal-konsulent, tajba ferm Dott. Milli jidher is-sur Camilleri qed jagixxi ta`apologista. Alla hares kien sacerdot, ghax kieku jibqa jistenna in-nghaga l-mitlufa tigi-ghandu. Hekk ghandhom tarka bieh!

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KNPD = kurunetta solista. X'jghidu fuq dawk in-nies b'disabilita` li jkollhom jistennew fuq stage, u jkun mimli nies ? Ma semghux bihom dawn il-kazi, jew iridu jistennew li xi hadd jibghat jghidilhom ? U jridu jinvestigaw. Ara tqabbdux xi konsulent ukoll. Jiddispjacini nuza dan il-qawl. Imma l-akbar ghama dak li ma jridx jara.

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the complain is about the route not the buses. I never heard anyone complaining about the routes but always about a much needed update of the buses - including making them more accessible for disabled people.

Paul Sammut •

"It would be VERY DIFFICULT to interpret the change of bus routes mentioned in the article link you sent me as discrimination on the basis of disability.” Actually it would be very easy for a person of Dr Camilleri's intelligence. All one has to do is to use the bus routes to go from Bormla to San Tumas and back.