MPs calls for consideration of PWDs by Air Niugini

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, November 30, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

LAE MP Loujaya Toni Kouza and Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather have both called on the Minister for Public Enterprises and State Investment, Ben Micah, to instruct National airline Air Niugini to integrate facilities on their flights to accommodate People With Disabilities (PWDs) traveling by air.

Speaking on behalf of the disable people in her electorate, Ms Kouza spoke of the injustice done towards PWDs, citing internationals conventions the country has signed up to and yet was still discriminating towards disable persons.

“They find it difficult to be lifting up through the narrow passageway almost running the risk of being toppled over,” She said.

“With regards to the number of disabled passengers people with special needs traveling now thanks to your Tura Fare efforts, I would like that you pay special attention to the conventions that we have signed ratifying this country to honor those conventions and one of those that first and foremost needs to be attended to is how we actually assist these people onto the aircraft.”

“I leave that to your customer relations people dwell on that because in the new year we are going to increase the capacity for our travel, bringing in people from the South Pacific disability category of people need to be attended to not only as a public relations service to the rest of the pacific and the region but for our own people in the country.”

Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather, in support for the call, mentioned his own experience with his own son who is handicapped.

“I have a handicapped son and for 5 years I have been battling this, and for 10 years he has been battling this,” Fairweather said.

“He even put up suggestions on what could be done on putting up machinery to purchase- as before, they use to use the food carrier but now they do not.”

“You really have to take this seriously as this is affecting a great number of people, as I saw a man a few months ago who had to climb down those stairs on his hands.”

In his response Minister for Public Enterprise & State Investment, Ben Micah assured both MPs that instructions would be made to Air Niugini to address the situation immediately.