Training held for court officials in Rigo and Hiri

National

SELECTED court officials from around Central attended a week-long course at the March Girls Resort, in Gaire village,recently.
Thirty-eight village court magistrates and clerks from Rigo and Hiri districts took part.
Central administration’s village courts and land mediation adviser Collin Geno said training for Abau and Kairuku districts would be held soon.
“The Central administration focus is to have effective court officials, create a committee to appoint magistrates based on merits to make official decisions and partnering with the Department of Justice and Attorney General and development partners to construct court houses.”
Geno told the participants to deliver services with integrity to gain respect and recognition in the community.
“As magistrates and peace officers we should maintain our integrity and not abuse our roles or the community will not respect us. “This means that when you uphold your integrity your decisions in village courts will be respected and honoured as they are handed down by professional magistrates or peace officers at the village level.
“We are here to make fair decisions for peace and harmony in the community.
European Union Ioannis ambassador Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos opened the course and said that there was a need to train judicial officials as they played an important role in the whole process of the justice system.
The initiative to train village court officials in Central was a welcome start, he said.
Manish Joshi, the country director of Child Fund PNG, said: “ChildFund is delighted to be working with DJAG and other partners to build the capacity of village courts officials as well as other duty bearers that play a critical role in protecting children.