Salika: Perform with honest, integrity

 DEPUTY Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, pictured, has encouraged law enforcement officers to uphold honesty, integrity and humanity in their line of duty.

Salika was in Madang for the opening of 2014 legal year. He led a march with Madang resident judge Justice David Cannings followed by lawyers, magistrates, police and prison officers.

He said police officers were on the front line, prison officers were at the back while lawyers and magistrates were in between to provide the service people required.

Salika encouraged district court magistrates to deal with cases quickly and with integrity and prison officers to deal with inmates with humanity.

“Our people are looking at us to deliver justice and we must perform with honesty and integrity,” Salika said.

He said the community would assist them if they 

did their job faithfully and transparently and without nepotism.

Salika encouraged the public to uphold and respect the law.

He told the people of Madang that resident judge Justice David Cannings was a good man and a human rights judge.

“Human rights is a constitutional right to be preserved and maintained. 

“God looks at us equally and that’s what justice is all about,” Salika said.

A church service was held at the Jomba Catholic parish church headed by Father Joseph Durero.

The service was attended by Usino-Bundi MP Anton Yagama and Madang businessman Peter Yama who were 

sentenced by Cannings on Friday to serve their jail terms of nine and six months respectively.

Salika granted them stay orders pending appeal 10 hours after their sentencing.

Father Peter Hunter of the Anglican Church conducted the official blessing of the legal year by praying over Salika, Cannings and magistrates.

Singing groups from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, United Church, Jomba Catholic youth and Beon inmates supported the service.