Lack of funding delays building of courthouse

LACK of funding is delaying the construction of a district court complex in Port Moresby – three years after an agreement was signed, an official says.
Acting Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim said the plan was to house all the courts under one roof in the capital city.
She said funding for the court complex was the biggest issue holding back the work.
“(At present), you will see that we are scattered. We’ve got (the magistrates court in) in town, Boroko and Waigani,” she said.
“The new complex should house everyone in one location.”
She said the Magisterial Services had already secured the land near the current site of the district court in Waigani.
The design had also been completed.
“We’ve secured the land, we’ve already got the design through the Australian Government’s Law and Justice Sector programme,” she said.
“It’s a four-storey building with a cell block underground. It will accommodate all the National Capital District courts with chambers for magistrates.
“The only problem is to secure funding to build it.”
The court complex is part of the Magisterial Services Corporate Plan (2016-2020) to be completed by 2020.