Sir Albert praises lawyers’ calibre

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By CHARLES MOI
The Government and people of PNG should be proud for producing fine law graduates from the University of PNG Law School, Chief Justice of the High Court of Solomon Islands Sir Albert Palmer says.
Sir Albert and other visiting judges from the Pacific Judicial Conference and PNG’s Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, toured the construction site of the soon to be completed law school building at UPNG in Waigani yesterday.
“This institution is renowned for the production of outstanding lawyers and leaders,” Sir Albert said.
He said this included former high court judge and current Solomon Islands Governor-General Sir Frank Kabui and Solomon Islands first local, lawyer the late David Campbell.
Sir Albert on behalf of the judiciary in Solomon Islands thanked the people and the Government of PNG for the generosity in allowing the Solomon Island students to study at UPNG.
“It’s a privilege to come and see this university. I hear so much about it. This is my first time to step in (PNG).”
Sir Albert said it was great to see UPNG progressing with the construction of the law building.
“It is wonderful to see that you’re moving on from the old to the new.”
A former student of the UPNG law school and current Chief Justice of the High Court of Kiribati Sir John Muria said he was privileged to return to UPNG after 41 years.
“Three chief justices and two deputy chief justices attending the Pacific Judicial Conference are products of UPNG,” Sir John said.
“This is one of the reasons why we should come back and visit the place.
“All of us are truly grateful to be here to be given the opportunity to see the new house that is going to be perfected and be the permanent residence of the law school. In our days we were wondering from one block to another. That’s not going to be the case anymore.”
PNG’s Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika thanked the UPNG administration and the contractor Niugini Builders for allowing him and the visiting judges to visit the construction site .
“The next time we are back we will not see it as it is now.” There will be a revolution to this entire building,” Sir Gibbs said.
Executive Dean of UPNG Law School Professor Mange Matui and other academic staff took the judges on a tour of two storey law building which will have a library, lecture rooms and moot court rooms.
The building is expected to be completed early next year.