Village courts need support: Ason

By PISAI GUMAR
A VILLAGE court officer has called on district administrations to appreciate the roles of village courts who need their support and assistance.
Acting Morobe village court officer Reuben Ason said even though districts received funding for the law and order sector, they failed to pass this down to village courts to build proper court houses, buy stationery and uniforms for officials.
“Uniforms and court houses reflect the authority, significance and presence of the State and government in rural communities,” he said.
“They instill trust, respect for one another, peace and harmony which ensure that government’s socio-economic development aspirations thrive.”
Ason said village courts and land mediation processes were handicapped by the lack of data, coordination and monitoring, inspection and reporting and manpower.
“Staffing is the main contributing factor to the non-performance and accumulation of required activities in court divisions,” he said.
Currently, Ason said there was only one provincial village court officer and provincial village court inspector and that was not enough.
“There is a need to create positions for district village court inspectors in each districts to coordinate, monitor and report to provincial headquarters,” he said.
Ason raised the concern after buying uniforms, safety boots, shorts and shirts for the 128 land mediators in 32 mediation divisions. There are four officials per mediation areas.
“Morobe needs an additional 45 village courts to cater for the large area and the increase in population.”
There are 87 village courts in operation, 12 have been proclaimed but awaiting gazettal, six are under proclamation and 45 proposed for feasibility studies.
The 45 include 11 in Menyamya, seven in Kabwum, five in Finschhafen, five in Nawaeb, four in Bulolo, four in Huon Gulf, four in Markham, three in Tewae-Siassi and two in Lae.