Commission of inquiry awaiting approval for foreign lawyers

National

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Royal Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Union Bank of Switzerland loan deal is still waiting for the National Court and the PNG Law Society to allow overseas counsellors and solicitors to practise in PNG, chairman Sir Salamo Injia says.
He told the inquiry that the commission was not able to announce its revised road map because the process of engaging overseas counsellors and solicitors continued to be delayed.
Sir Salamo expressed concern that the admission of three barristers and seven solicitors had not been secured.
He said the work of overseas counsellors and solicitors was critical to the standard of the COI.
“It is the overseas counsellors and solicitors who will organise the evidence and it is their responsibility to present that evidence before the commission,” he said.
“We will be in a position to announce the revised road map after the admission of overseas counsellors and solicitors is secured from the National Court and the certification is completed by the law society.”
Sir Salamo said work was being done by a local firm of solicitors or lawyers to apply for admission of the overseas lawyers.
“The commission is conscious of time that has been taken to secure their admissions and certification for overseas barristers and solicitors to practice in this jurisdiction,” he said.
“The Commission is anxious to perceive the enquiry, particularly with the public hearing phase given that the commission had already commenced preliminary sittings to assemble evidence.” Sir Salamo said on June 2 the solicitors’ contract to engage Minter Ellison Solicitors of Australia was signed by the governor-general and a representative and that procurement process took more than six months.
“Under the Australian system, the barristers and solicitors work together to manage and present the evidence that is required by the commission,” he said.

One thought on “Commission of inquiry awaiting approval for foreign lawyers

  • Guess Aussie legal labourers come cheaper than PNG ones and they will live in some hut out in the bush eating sacsac.
    Who are they representing and why haven’t their clients arranged travel and work permits already after months of being warned of the inquiry.

Comments are closed.