THE Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG) is calling on relevant government ministries and agencies to seriously address the Short Bus Routes issue by implementing recommendations from the report on Short Bus Routes by Parliament’s Select Committee tabled in 2014.

This is in support of the article titled Short Bus Route Victimises People published in the Island Sun newspaper on Thursday March 23, 2017.

YWPG believes the short bus routes in Honiara City is affecting residents who use public transport to travel to and from work, school and other regular commuting in Honiara.

As a genuine concern, YWPG would like to see the government address citizens’ needs to pay for affordable and consistent services delivered within the city, and to improve road and transport services that would enable people to engage in their various livelihood activities in an efficient and economical way.

YWPG acknowledges government’s idea to upgrade the Kukum Highway with assistance from JICA on Mataniko main bridge and the extension of the main road that runs from the bridge to Central Market area.

YWPG also understands, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development is working on relevant policies and legal frameworks to improve public transport in Honiara.

However, the group would like to see visible fast-tracked approaches improving the urban public transport and road systems.

This is in terms of upgrading the feeder roads in Honiara to accommodate for maintaining buses that run daily routes, as well as regulations that deal with short bus routes by standardising costs and routes of public transport in the city.

YWPG is currently taking steps to formally inquire on the recommendations from the Report that can be actioned immediately that is favourable to addressing the short bus routes issue.

YWPG is an initiative of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, formed in 2011 as a space to nurture young women and men leaders and advocate for and influence policies and legislations.

–PARLIAMENT MEDIA