More capacity building needed, MP says

THERE are 15 Community Justice Service Centres in the country, justice administration deputy secretary Josephine Pitmur says.
“We have deployed officers to work in their respective districts,” she added.
Speaking at a K400,000 cheque presentation to the Justice and Attorney-General’s Department yesterday, Pitmur said housing a district court house, court registry and offices for district staff was a way to decentralise operations instead of concentrating them in Waigani. The cheque was presented by Obura-Wonewara MP Mehrra Kipefa for the construction of a centre in his district.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement in March between the department and the Obura-Wonenara District Development Authority.
Pitmur said the centre’s building would cost K1.2 million with the department providing the remaining K800,000.
Kipefa said he would like to see more capacity-building programmes at the centre for youths and women to be involved in community development.
“Although it is a rural district, we are slowly getting the buildings set up.
“We have been facing a lot of issues related to tribal fighting and warfare.
“We are now looking at cutting down law and order issues and so we are happy with the construction of the centre. The focus is not only on the law and order part but also on community service,” he added.