The Deputy Chief Magistrate of Lands, Cliveson Philip, has declared that the integration of law and justice agencies from the National Government to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be implemented in stages. This gradual integration is part of the “Shaping Bougainville Justice” initiative, leading to the drafting of the Bougainville Courts Bill 2024 and the Bougainville Community Courts Bill 2024, which are currently being reviewed by the House of Representatives.
Mr. Philip explained that the first phase will focus on building the necessary legal infrastructure, establishing a new court system in Bougainville. Subsequent phases will include the transfer of relevant staff and the acquisition of the required financial resources. Starting with the court system, this step-by-step transition will ultimately encompass other law and justice sector entities, such as the police, correctional services, and potentially the Ombudsman Commission.
The Bougainville Community Courts Bill 2024 seeks to create a village court system to support community governments across Bougainville. In contrast, the Bougainville Courts Bill 2024 aims to develop a district court system for the region. Deputy Magistrate Philip also indicated the possibility of setting up higher courts in Bougainville, following a restructuring of the National Judiciary that recently included the legislative establishment of an Appeals or Appellant’s Court by the National Parliament.
