Enforcing law from the bar

THE 127 trainee lawyers who were admitted to the bar at Waigani National and Supreme Courts is a major breakthrough in the enforcement of law and justice in the country.
Arguably, this record number of trainee law graduates is a relief to the congested judiciary system of Papua New Guinea, which is overwhelmed with cases pending determination by the courts.
Particularly, when the scale of corruption in the country is reaching unprecedented levels, the great number of lawyers passing out is an optimistic approach in combating corruption’s effects in communities.
The lawyers’ walk against corruption last month emphasised on a number of measures to combat corruption and one of the key aspects of it is the manpower requirement at various stages of the legal processes in delivering justice.
The arrangement with the PNG Law Society and the Police Department for lawyers to provide technical advice and guidance in preparing for the prosecution of cases is an essential aspect, because most legitimate matters before the courts are prematurely discharged on grounds of want of prosecution.
We appreciate the efforts of the University of Papua New Guinea’s law faculty in the balance of gender intake into the programme and an increased quota in recent years.
Also, thank you to LTI for providing the best practical skills and knowledge applicable relevant to current judicial practices and processes.
Finally, but not the least, we as parents appreciate the efforts of some provincial governments and district development authorities for their continuous support through their tertiary students’ scholarship schemes which actually made all achievements possible.

Philip Ukuni