Judicial cooperation will be closer between PNG and the Solomon Islands after the chief justices of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today in Port Moresby.
Sir Salamo Injia and Sir Albert Palmer today signed the five-year MoU at the Waigani Court buildings.
The MoU paves way for judicial cooperation and assistance, exchange of technical expertise, advice and support, workshops, study visits and work attachments between the two countries.
PNG will provide to the Solomon Island judiciary assistance in Alternate Dispute Resolution, electronic case management, leadership and change management, including budget and finance.
The five-year deal will also see PNG judges appointed to assist in the Solomon Islands jurisdiction and sit in its court of appeal and high court.
Sir Salamo, at the signing, said this is not the first of such for PNG, as other judges before his time have been appointed to sit in the high court of Solomon Islands. They include the likes of Sir Mari Kapi, Sir Kubulan Los and Sir Arnold Amet.
PNG Judiciary also has three similar MoU with Australia.
Sir Albert said the initial discussion of this judicial cooperation assistance begun last year after the Pacific Judicial Forum in Port Moresby.
He also said the MoU marks the beginning of closer ties between the two judiciaries and will assist deliver efficient justice in the two countries.
(Picture: Solomon Islands Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer and PNG Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia at the signing today)