Children utmost on Magistrate Gibson’s mind

By ZACHERY PER
IT always pains village court magistrate Anita Gibson to see young children brought before her in court in the remote Yasubi village in Okapa district, Eastern Highlands, blaming their parents for the children’s misbehavior.
“The Government is providing free education to all children, but it is the parents who fail to discipline and support them. They should be teaching children good ethics and (Christian) values in life.”
The mother of five, who has been serving as a magistrate for 15 years at her village, is doing everything she can to make sure her own children receive a good education, and do not end up before her in court.
She strongly believes that the lack of parental care and responsible upbringing has derailed the potential of many a child from becoming a good citizen and leading a good life.
“While serving as village court magistrate, I make sure when children come to court that their rights are not abused or manipulated.
“When I see parents with small children coming to court, or when children are caught breaking the law, I step in to solve their issues (the best way I can) before it grows to a point where it is difficult to handle.”
She is from Tarabo in West Okapa, and married to Gibson Nini of Yasubi village in East Okapa.
Their eldest son Traven successfully went through the Okapa Flexible Open Distant Education after completing Grade 12. Daughter Tamando, the second eldest, is in Grade 12 at the Awande Flexible Open Distant Education. Their three younger children are still in primary school at Yasubi village.
Magistrate Gibson does not want to see her children end up on the wrong side of the law, and is helping husband Nini raise their five children well and provide them a good education to set them up well for a good future.
She blames most of the cases coming before her to parental negligence which led children to end up causing law and order issues.

“ The Government is providing free education to all children, but it is the parents who fail to discipline and support them. They should be teaching children good ethics and values in life.”

Most of the common cases she deals with every week relate to women issues, land, stealing and fighting.
“Police in Okapa work closely with the village court, the peace mediation team and the district peace and good order committee to make sure the district is law-abiding and peaceful.”
She wears other hats too – apart from being a mother and village magistrate. She is a teacher and floriculturist. Because of her wish to see all children being given a good start in life, she volunteered to teach Home Economics at the Tarabo Day High School in Okapa.
“Apart from teaching Home Economics, I also teach floriculture to students as I am also a florist who advocates for flower cultivation and marketing.”
She carries out her duty silently yet diligently in that remote area of the country, hoping she is contributing her bit to nation building – in particular children’s welfare.