Supreme Court officially opens circuit in Vanimo after nearly 50 years
In a landmark moment for West Sepik, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea officially opened its circuit sittings in Vanimo on Monday, marking the first time in nearly 50 years that the country's highest court has sat in the province.
The official opening was led by Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, accompanied by seven judges of the National and Supreme Courts in Justice Collin Makail, Justice Kenneth Frank, Justice Thomas Anis, Justice Vergil Narokobi, Justice Paul Tusais, Justice Rebecca Christensen, and Justice Jeffrey Mesa. They were joined by Chief Magistrate Mark Pupaka and resident magistrates.
The historic ceremony was attended by Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Pila Niningi, West Sepik Governor Tony Wouwou, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Vanimo-Green River MP Belden Namah, and Aitape-Lumi MP Anderson Mise, along with provincial leaders and members of the legal fraternity.
In welcoming the judicial delegation, Namah described the occasion as a significant achievement for the people of West Sepik after decades without Supreme Court sittings in the province.
"For many of our people, travelling from Vanimo to Port Moresby to access Supreme Court services is costly and difficult. Bringing the Supreme Court to Vanimo makes justice more accessible and affordable for our people," he said.
In his keynote address, Chief Justice Salika said West Sepik is widely regarded as one of Papua New Guinea's more peaceful provinces. He said while resident judges are often assigned to areas experiencing high crime rates, West Sepik has maintained a relatively peaceful environment and does not face overwhelming levels of criminal activity.
Justice Makail reflected on the history of the judiciary in Sandaun, revealing that the National Court first sat in Vanimo on 1 October 1975, only weeks after PNG gained Independence. Court records show that the inaugural National Court sitting was held at the site where the Indonesian Consulate now stands.
The commencement of regular Supreme Court circuit sittings in Vanimo represents a major step towards decentralising judicial services, improving access to justice, reducing travel costs, and strengthening the rule of law for the people of the border province.