Village court officials urge MP to help address their grievances

By ZACHERY PER
VILLAGE court officials and land mediators in Daulo, Eastern Highlands, are responsible for solving conflicts and deserve better remuneration from the state, Lower Asaro village court chairman Sosave David says.
David said this to new Daulo MP Ekime Gorosahu, who visited Asaro village court last week, during a familiarisation visit of the district’s services.
“Village court officials and land mediators handle sensitive conflicts that have the potential to develop into tribal fights,” he said.
“Successive governments and Members of Parliament have never heard their grievances.
“You are the first MP to visit us and hear our cries.”
David said court officials had to walk through Daulo Pass to Watabung and travel to Upper and Lower Asaro to hear cases and they needed a vehicle to move around conveniently to solve disputes in communities.
“We are peacemakers and solve disputes that have the potential to destroy community unity and peace, but we are not treated well by the Government.”
David told the new MP that his officials trusted that he would help them with their issues.
Daulo village court chairman Waina Goheno thanked Gorosahu for the visit and supported David’s request for a new vehicle for village court and lands court officials.
He also called for their allowances be paid fortnightly instead of monthly.
Goheno said they handled many sensitive conflicts and disputes regarding land, women, pigs and property.
He assured them that he would look into their demands after he had established himself.
“Let me settle down and in the line of discharging my duties, I will look into your concerns,” he told them.
Gorosahu thanked them for helping maintain peace and unity in Daulo.