Public service drivers must provide services to all passengers including people with disabilities.
The warning comes from the Land Transport Authority after they received numerous complaints against PSV drivers who are refusing people with special needs to board buses or hire taxis.
LTA Chief Executive, Carmine Piantedosi says they’re concerned with the obstacles faced by the disabled community, while accessing the public transport.
“From a compliance perspective PSV drivers are aware that they need to except disabled people as passengers. The issues for some buses is the way their designed to carry wheelchair access which is limited but for other PSV drivers and operators where they are able to carry them, there should be no reason to why they should be refused.”
The Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons Executive Director Dr. Sitiveni Yanuyanutawa says PSV drivers need to understand the challenges people with disabilities face on a daily basis.
FNCDP says it will work with other relevant authorities to look into this issue and work on more awareness programs to try and change the mind set of every Fijian.
