Alternattiva Demokrativa condemns the lack of accessibility experienced by persons with mobility impairments or those who are wheelchair users in accessing public transport.

AD Spokesperson on Disability Issues and Sports, Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, said: “Several buses that are currently operating do not have support ramps and therefore are not usable by commuters who require universal access. Wheelchair users have been required to wait on bus stops till the accessible bus comes along. Albeit flaunting accessibility on their web site portal, Transport Malta are currently in violation of both the Equal Opportunities Act (2000) and of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention that Malta ratified in 2012. Without wasting time pointing fingers at previous administration, the current government administration should address these shortcomings and restore persons with disability their rights.”

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “Transport Minister Joe Mizzi should do away with his usual habit of talking a lot and delivering nothing. It is about time that he passed on from his empty words to concrete action.”

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Alternattiva Demokrativa tikkundanna n-nuqqas ta’ aċċessibilita` li jesperjenzaw persuni li għandhom problemi ta’ mobilita` jew dawk li jużaw is-siġġu tar-roti meta jużaw it-trasport pubbliku.

Il-Kelliema ta’ AD dwar diżabilita` u Sport, Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, qalet: “Ħafna karozzi tal-linja li qegħdin joperaw bħalissa m’għandhomx rampi u għalhekk ma jistgħux jintużaw minn persuni li jeħtieġu aċċess. Dawk li jużaw is-siġġu tar-roti ikollhom jibqgħu jistennew fuq il-bus stops sakemm tiġi karozza aċċessibbli. Għalkemm Transport Malta tiftaħar fuq is-sit elettroniku tagħha li s-servizz huwa aċċessibbli għal kulħadd, fil-fatt bħalissa qiegħda tikser kemm il-liġi dwar Oppotunitajiet Indaqs (Equal Opportunities Act, 2000) kif ukoll Artiklu 12 tal-Konvenzjoni tal-Ġnus Magħquda li Malta irratifikat fl-2012. Mingħajr ma joqgħod jaħli l-ħin iwaħħal fl-amministrazzjoni ta’ qabel, il-gvern preżenti jeħtieġ jindirizza dawn in-nuqqasijiet u jara li d-drittijiet ta’ persuni b’diżabilita` jiġu mħarsa.”

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Il-Ministru tat-Trasport Joe Mizzi jeħtieġ li jnaqqas il-paroli u jieħu ftit azzjoni minflok ma jpaċpaċ biss. Wasal iż-żmien li jagħtina ftit riżultati konkreti.”.