MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
14 November 2006
VANIMO COURT HOUSE OPENING
Law and justice services in the West Sepik Province received a boost, with the opening [on Tuesday 14 November 2006] of the new Vanimo District Courthouse and new homes for staff employed by Correctional Service, Magisterial Service, and Community Based Corrections. The total value of the project was approximately K2.5 million.
Magisterial Services played a key role in managing the Project from the beginning, contributed to funding for the project and will also meet ongoing maintenance costs. The project was also supported by the Australian Government’s aid program through a funding contribution.
“I am very pleased that the Australian aid program has been able to support the law and justice sector and West Sepik Province to implement this initiative, and it is important that this is seen as a partnership with strong commitment from the PNG agencies involved,” said Margaret Thomas, Minister Counsellor of AusAID in PNG.
Ms Thomas said this kind of cooperation is a great example of what is needed to help bring effective services to the people of PNG, and is in line with the three pillars of PNG’s National Law and Justice Policy.
"These facilities are an example of the provincial administration’s efforts to increase delivery of timely and effective services to the people. The ongoing hard work and cooperation of all law and justice agencies, provincial and local level government, and communities will result in lasting change,” she said.
Notes to editor
• PNG’s national law and justice policy sets out a vision for a ‘just, safe, and secure society for all’. In support of PNG’s goals, AusAID provided assistance valued at an estimated K65.9 million in 2005-2006 to help PNG progress reforms that improve delivery in the law and justice sector.
• Key achievements include nurturing greater engagement between national and provincial law and justice agencies; the development of a provincial engagement framework aimed at addressing priority law and justice issues, including family violence; court user forums resulting in a 67 per cent reduction in the backlog of cases from 2003 and 2004 in Port Moresby; and capacity strengthening within the Ombudsman Commission.
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