Village court officials welcome directive to reinstate them

By TONY PALME
FIFTY-six village court officials in Jiwaka, who were terminated in May 2017, have welcomed a directive from the Public Solicitor’s Office for them to be reinstated and paid their backdated allowances.
Nine village court chairmen, eight deputy chairmen, seven clerks, peace officers and magistrates have thanked Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu for making this possible.
Mamu, through his lawyer Samson Minara, directed a letter on Dec 29 to administrator Michael Wandil, law and order programme manager Allan Allam and village court inspector Joseph Opo to address the officials.
The officials said they did not received any formal termination notice and did not know the reason for their revocation. According to confidential information they obtained, the stated nature of their dismissal was old age and retirement, misconduct and absenteeism.
Opo said in a newspaper article dated Oct 25, 2017, that 10-15 village court officials were put off pay, which was claimed by the affected officials as “misleading”.
“Most of us are not old or restricted to a walking stick as claimed,” the court officials said.
“We are healthy and active.
“We are very thankful to the Public Solicitor’s office for giving this 21-day notice.”
Anznimp village court chairman Philip Jika said: “We are very senior officials and the face of law and order in the community.
“We do not deserve such treatment.”