YANGORU/SAUSSIA DISTRICT TO BE FIRST DISTRICT TO HAVE NATIONAL COURT HOUSE

In a historic moment, the National Judiciary Staff Services (NJSS) and the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority signed an agreement to partner to build a National Court House in the district headquarters.

This will make Yangoru-Saussia the first district in the country to have a National Court House with a Resident judge based in the district.

Both parties have agreed to partner and improve judicial services in Yangoru-Saussia District and to extend the services to other districts in the Greater Sepik Region including Maprik, Wosera-Gawi, Angoram, Ambuti- Drekikir and Lumi and Nuku in the West Sepik Provinces.

The project will be delivered at the cost of K10 million which includes counter funding of K5million each from both parties.

Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru said this is a historic achievement and he is pleased to announce that the K5million counter funding from the Yangoru-Saussia DDA is ready and will be immediately released as soon as the accounts are open this week.

Mr. Maru says one of the biggest issues that has been raised in the country by the Law Society and the public is the lack of respect for the rule of law this is because criminals are not brought to justice.
He says therefore to improve access to judicial services in the district the Yangoru-Saussia is investing K5million. These services will complement the Mobile Barracks which is about to be completed and the district court which is already established.

He adds that with the finding made available the DDA expect NJSS to finalize the design and they want to go out on tender as soon as practical for the entire project.

Meanwhile the local member thanked the Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika and his management for this historic partnership in granting Yangoru-Saussia as the first district in PNG to have a Resident National Court Judge.

He says it is even more historical when this partnership has been announced in the 50th year of the country’s in dependence Anniversary.

The Secretary for NJSS Mr. Nichodemus Mosoro on behalf of NJSS and the Magisterial Service gave assurance to support the people of Yangoru-Saussia District with the counter funding of K5million for this project.

Mr. Mosoro said the Chief Justice has acknowledged the Honorable Member’s initiative and the people of Yangoru-Saussia in terms of addressing lawlessness in the Central Sepik area. The district is a strategic location so far as addressing lawlessness is concerned.

He says having a permanent presence of a judicial officer, be it a judge or a magistrate, will streamline the whole especially criminal justice administration process. The rule of law is a key enabler for development to happen.