Just like in Fiji, PNG women and girls will soon be able to travel safely in clean and well-regulated public transport.
This was made possible during a learning exchange visit to Fiji last week, where the PNG Road Traffic Authority and the Fiji Land Transport Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an ongoing and close partnership.
This deal will enable the Fiji Land Transport Authority to share its expertise and provide technical support to the newly established PNG Road Traffic Authority in the areas of licensing, vehicle registration, road safety, fee collection and safe public transport services.
UN Women PNG gender specialist, Bessie Maruia, noted that UN Women is confident that PNG transport will advance significantly after this exchange with our Fiji partners.
“PNG will use Fiji’s vast experience with modernising transport and incorporate a more user friendly perspective into PNG’s transport policies and operations,” Maruia said.
UN Women also recognises the underrepresentation of women in the transport sector and will continue to advocate for women’s active participation in decision making processes.
“It’s all about making transport more efficient. Why can’t we have well developed bus stops free from crime and have PMVs that operate safely?
“More women would use public transport and thus economic growth would occur. Transport needs to be more user friendly and Fiji sets a very good example for us to follow,” stated Maruia.
The learning exchange, facilitated by UN Women Safe Public Transport Programme through funding support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, enabled senior management of PNG Road Traffic Authority to learn about the Fiji Land Transport Authority.
One important achievement was the common agreed objective to promote gender equality in transport to improve service delivery and safety for all.
The chairperson for PNG Road Traffic Authority, Melvin Yalapan, remarked: “We do not have to look far when we have a model institution in the Pacific where we can learn from”.
“Our Fiji counterparts are well established and have set a benchmark for PNG Road Transport Authority to learn from and develop our systems.”
Chairman of the Fiji Land Transport Authority Board, Vijay Maharaj, added that Fiji has adopted strong, well-organised and very modern systems from Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, in order to improve its transport systems.
He said Fiji is honoured to share its knowledge with RTA PNG.
(File picture)