The Judiciary’s hopes of having the New Waigani Court complex project completed for opening next year during the APEC meeting will not eventuate due to funding allocations.
For the 2018 Budget, the Judiciary was allocated K80 million.
Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, said this means the building will not be completed next year but will be at very advanced stages of the construction, come November next year.
“They decided to give us only K80 million for next year, obviously our objective will not be achieved but that is a matter for the government, and the judiciary respects the decision of the executive government given the tough economic times that the country is facing.
“We will run along with the program that the executive government has set for us,” he said.
He however said the complex could be completed by the end of 2019.
This project is the single biggest project ever undertaken by the Judiciary and the Government of PNG. It has been a government priority and is being developed to accommodate the three-tier court system.
The commencement of the main construction phase is valued at K427 million which will culminate three separate courts.
Once completed, the complex will have 14 court rooms, Judges Chambers, detainee holding cells and an administration building which will accommodate court registries and other administrative functions.
Picture: Artistic impression of the new Waigani Court complex.