K80m given to LJS over eight years

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE Australian government, through AusAID, has spent more than K80 million since 2003 to help the Law and Justice Sector Programme in the country, Mona Balram, AusAID’s second secretary, said.
She said this covered help in terms of funds directly spent on rehabilitation and construction work of buildings and facilities and technical skills training to members of the sector. 
She revealed this during the 11th civil and criminal advocacy workshop in Port Moresby where more than 60 trainee lawyers from the Legal Training Institute and members of the local and Victorian bars, including representatives from the legal fraternity, attended.
Balram said this had seen positive results from the sector agencies and a strong working relationship between AusAID and the programme agencies.
She said the Correctional Services, police and the courts were some of the government agencies benefiting from the assistance given by AusAID.
Balram said the institute was an important partner in this drive and that the Australian government was proud and committed to support its activities.
“LTI has the important role to ensure PNG law graduates are trained to the highest standard,” she said.
Balram said well-trained lawyers were important to provide sound legal advice to their clients. 
LTI director Pauline Mogish thanked AusAID for its continuous support to the institution through the Legal Capacity Building Project and later through the programme.
“These two intensive weeks of training would not take place without the support of AusAID through the Law and Justice Sector Program and the government of PNG,” Mogish said.
She said this was where funding was made available to have barristers and solicitors, including judges from the Victorian bar, in Australia, flown into the country to give professional training to the LTI trainees since 2001.