By NOSO DANIEL
THE newly appointed provincial police commander (PPC) for the Eastern Highlands province Michael Welly has encouraged the Eastern Highlands people to make use of the village courts with the opening of the legal year which commenced on Feb 2 in Goroka.
In an exclusive interview with Mr Welly, he encouraged eastern highlanders to make use of the village courts when trying to solve their conflicts.
“We have just witnessed the opening of the legal year. Let us do things in a more logical or appropriate manner by way of solving disputes in the village courts first. We know the law and the law is here. Let’s abide by the law,” he said.
He said let us be more responsible and be reasonable when we are trying to solve a problem in the villages or in the communities.
Mr Welly encouraged all to become good citizens adding when there is a conflict, they should not rush to the high courts but first turn to the village courts and solve the problem there hence if the problem escalates, then they could take the problems to the district or the national courts.
“If there is a problem in terms of issues in the villages or in a community, the village courts are there. “Court system starts from the village level so we got to utilize the village court system properly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the usual procession and the church service for the opening of the legal year did not occur but guard of honor and inspection by Justice William Neill took place in front of the Court House.
The program started around 9:30am. Members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Correctional Services combined and assembled in front of the Court House as Supt Welly escorted Justice Neill for the guard of honor inspection.
After the inspection, Justice William Neill addressed the discipline forces the national judicial staff services (NJSS) to continue with the good work they are doing.
In attendance at the occasion were Law Society Council member and Deputy Solicitor General Tauvasa Tanuvasa, OIC of the Public Solicitor’s office (EHP) Vincent Agusave, the Eastern Highlands legal fraternity and the public.