PNG Law Society

This is the 50^th year of admitting lawyers to the bar and the highest admission compared to the last 50 years. This group of lawyers are also the first group to undergo the strict, fit and proper test as per the new law following amendments in parliament to improve the quality of lawyers.

The journey to the admission bar of the National and Supreme Court has not been an easy one for these young men and women. They have had to put a lot of time and effort to reach this milestone.

Society president Hubert Namani said this during the post-march of the ‘Rule of Law’ yesterday in Port Moresby.

He said horrific acts captured in the videos shared via social media during the conflict, serves as a stark reminder of the need for swift and resolute legal action to deliver justice to the victims and their families.

“Disturbing videos circulating on social media, depicting the killers flouting their brutality with impunity, underscores the urgency of accountability,” he said.

President Peter Kuman revealed to the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery hearing that the society does not play a role in the Law Reform Commission but any draft or proposed legislation that is circulated to them, is forwarded to its members for their input.

“A classic example is the Anti-Money Laundering legislation that got passed which affects the profession in a significant way. We were not invited by the Central Bank and the Law Reform Commission to comment on it,” Kuman told the committee.

President of PNG Law Society Peter Kuman explained this to the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery hearing yesterday.

He said when a reserved judgment is delayed for more than three months by the courts, the lawyers and parties involved are required to write to the office of the Chief Justice.

“They’ve got a tracking system which I understand internally, where the Chief Justice speaks to the Judge concerned, and remind them. I would assume that the Chief Justice will speak to the judge concerned.

Society president Peter Kuman issued a statement, saying the actions by members of the Royal PNG Constabulary were uncalled for and unbecoming for members of a disciplinary force.

And taking into account past accounts of police behaviour, Kuman said the society was concerned that ordinary people of this country were being suppressed from expressing their views through public forums and rallies.

 Kuman who is the principal owner of Kuman Lawyers was elected to the executive committee during the second SPLA conference in Brisbane which was held on September 17 and 18.

Kuman will serve on the executive committee for two years and he has pledged to work closely with SPLA for the betterment of the PNG Law Society.

The conference held in Brisbane had the largest number of participants from the PNG Law Society.