Justice and Attorney General Minister Pila Niningi announce 34 new magistrates

The National Government priority to improve magisterial services in the country saw appointment of 34 news magistrates.

Eight appointed as fully accredited mediator magistrates, 21 provincial accredited mediator magistrates and five re-appointment as acting principal magistrates.

Justice and Attorney General Minister and Chairman of Judicial and Legal Commission, Pila Niningi during announcement on Thursday commended the government for bringing the total number of magistrates up to 87 magistrates.

Mr Niningi said this was an important area which has been overlooked over the years "but past government did not fund recruitment and training of magistrates .”

The reappointment of eight Acting Principal Magistrates of District Courts of PNG include; Lorna Sani, Jasper Amauni, Albert Daniels, Nancy Lipai, Kimberly Berem, Stanley Bino, Poning Makap and Magdeline Kivu.

Other Provincial Accredited Mediator Magistrates include Mark Pupaka [Chief Magistrate], Samuel Lavutul, Rosie Johnson, Bruce Taskul and Tracy Ganai and others.

Minister Niningi said the important element of the justice system is mediation and urged the magistrates address backlog of cases.

“We encourage magistrates to go into mediation to avoid long awaiting trials which are time consuming.

“Now that magistrates have taken up this path, the government congratulates those fully and provincial accredited mediator magistrates appointed by the Justice and Legal Service Commission.

“More qualified magistrates are required. We will not stop, more magistrates will be recruited and placed in all districts as we go along.

“But we want magistrates who come with community standing as well to live by example without habits like gambling, excessive drinking, chewing and smoking so you gain respect from the community while you do your job,” Mr Niningi said.