District Court, Milne Bay Province

Milne Bay01

PNG's judicial system consists of Village Courts, District Courts and the National Court which is the superior trial court.  Magisterial Services (established by section 173(1) of Constitution of Papua New Guinea) administers the District Court system within PNG, and there are 57 District Court establishments across the nation staffed by 88 magistrates and more than 500 court support staff.

 


The District Court's key functional jurisdictions include:

  • Hearing of Civil matters (general civil and family court),
  • Hearing of Criminal cases (committal and summary),
  • Establishing Leadership and Administrative tribunals,
  • Hearing matters relating to Land (Local and Provincial Land Courts),
  • Conducting Village Court appeals and reviews,
  • Juvenile Criminal Court matters,
  • Pikinini (Civil) Court matters, and
  • Coroner’s Court

The District Court uses formal and informal approaches for settling grievances, particularly in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Magistrates can also make orders for a community work order to be undertaken by a defendant who has been found guilty.  Where mitigating factors outweigh the aggravating factors, the defendant may be placed on probation with conditions for community work and/or payment of compensation. 

Contact:

Alotau District Court

PO Box 647, Alotau

Ph: 641 1477,  Fax: 642 1277, CUG:71004225

Misima Court House

PO Box 52, Bwagaoia

Ph: 634 7417, Fax: 643 7417, CUG:71911261

Losuia Court House

PO Box 42, Losuia, CUG: 7191 1260


Village Courts, Milne Bay Province


Village Courts are an essential part of PNG's formal court system.  They are established under the Village Courts Act 1989 and the Village Court Regulations 1973.  There are more than 1,500 Village Courts across the country, supported by over 15,000 officials, including 900 women.  Each Village Court has 4-5 Village Magistrates (appointed by the Minister for Justice as judicial officers), 3-4 Peace Officers, and 1 Clerk.  Over 90% of people living in PNG have access to a Village Court, which have the jurisdiction to settle local disputes and deal with minor crimes using customary conflict-resolution approaches wherever possible.

Village Courts are the largest provider of restorative justice services in PNG, and are authorised to do the following:
  • Mediate disputes between individuals, clans or communities.
  • Encourage parties in dispute to use local conflict resolution processes such as the "Local Chieftain System" or "System of Elders".
  • Convene a Full Court Sitting (if mediation fails or the parties do not want to use mediation) or convene a Joint Court Sitting if the matter involves people from different Village Court areas.
  • Issue formal Preventive Orders to stop further harm, damage or fighting offences.
  • Deal with minor crimes through mediation or court sittings.  The primary goal is to achieve an outcome that is acceptable to all parties and, if this cannot be achieved, the Court can make decisions and make orders (eg. fine, compensation, restitution, work order, etc.)
  • Ensure that Village Court orders are obeyed under the Village Courts Act 1989.  If defendants fail to obey these orders, the Court can issue an Imprisonment Order which then needs to be endorsed by the District Court.
  • Refer a matter to a higher court for serious offences outside the jurisdiction of the Village Court Act and Regulations.
  • Refer a matter to another service provider (eg. Department of Community Development).

Contact:

Mr Ben Mwagwaya

Provincial Village Courts Officer

Milne Bay Provincial Administration

Division of Law and Order, Free Mail Bag,

Alotau, Milne Bay Province

Ph:  6411264

Fax: 6411761

Milne Bay has 82  Village Courts


Probation, Parole & Juvenile Justice Services, Milne Bay Province


CBC is an agency within the Department of Justice & Attorney General.  CBC has offices in every province across PNG and it plays a central role in developing and implementing restorative justice programs throughout the country.  It provides members of the community with access to community justice services which include the provision of non-custodial rehabilitation programs for both adult and juvenile offenders.  This assists offenders to re-enter society as responsible, productive citizens.

CBC is responsible for:
  • Drafting and submitting Pre-Sentencing Reports and Means Assessment Reports to the National and District Courts in order to assist the courts on appropriate alternatives to prison sentences for convicted offenders.  These alternatives could include probation, community service, mediation, restitution, compensation, counselling, rehabilitation or other diversionary strategies aimed to divert offenders from further misconduct.
  • Drafting Pre-Parole Reports in consultation with Correctional Services and the Parole Board.
  • Establishing links with government agencies, businesses, and NGOs to arrange short-term work assignments for offenders under Court orders.
  • Supervising and counselling of adult and juvenile offenders on community-based Court orders, and also parolees bound by Parole Orders to do community work.
  • Providing Courts with reports on breaches of court orders.
  • Conducing inspection visits of juvenile detention and correctional facilities

Contact:

A/Senior Probation Officer

Probation, Parole & Juvenile Justice Services

Dept. Of Justice & Attorney General

PO Box 201, Alotau, MBP

Ph/Fax: 641 1501


Provincial Administration & Dept. for Community Development, Milne Bay


The Provincial Administrations across PNG have Community Development Branches, which provide services on behalf of the Department of Community Development.  The Welfare Officers and Child Protection Officers employed by the Provincial Administration administer the provisions of a number of acts, including the Laukautim Pikinini Act, Deserted wife & Children Act, Marriage Act, National Youth Service Act, and National Council of Women Incorporation Act.

Provincial welfare, gender & child protection officers provide the following services to the public:
  • Investigation and reporting of cases of abuse or neglect involving family or children (including domestic violence)
  • Assist with juveniles in the Police lock-ups and negotiate for their removal from the cells where appropriate
  • Deal with adoption applications and birth registration
  • Monitor employment of children in the workforce
  • Conduct counselling and mediation on all issues affecting families (particularly in relation to family conflicts, child abuse, adultery, and sexual assault/harassment)
  • Inspections of Child-Minding Centres and early childhood development programs
  • Conduct awareness programs to communities and attend school board meetings
  • Provide referrals in relation to custody & maintenance, adultery cases, & adoption

Contact:

Milne Bay Province

Community Development Division

Family & Social Welfare Services

Ph:  641 0384

 

Ph:  Esa'ala 275 6121

Ph: Kiriwina 643 9051

Ph:  Misima 643 7426

Ph:  Rabaraba 641 1314


Catholic Church, Milne Bay Province


The Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea is made up of 4 Archdioceses and 15 Dioceses in Vanimo, Aitape, Wewak, Lae, Madang, Mt Hagen, Wabag, Mendi, Goroka, Kundiawa, Kavieng, Kimbe, Rabaul, Kerema, Daru, Alotau, Berina, and Port Moresby.  The church runs numerous programs across PNG (regional contact details can be obtained by ringing the Port Moresby numbers below)

The church programs include:
  • Pastoral Service:  training, planning, monitoring & evaluation
  • Marriage Tribunal:  church marriage separations & related matters
  • Youth Ministry:  training
  • HIV:  awareness, testing, treatment & care
  • Drugs & Alcohol:  awareness & counselling
  • Family Life:  awareness, training & counselling
  • Social Apostolate:  skills training (sewing, cooking & handcrafts)
  • Remand & Rehabilitation Centres:  care, training & supervision
  • Women's Ministry:  all programs relating to family and gender issues
  • Family Services & Caritas:  counselling, skills training (literacy, farming, cooking, leadership, disaster relief, & integral human

Contact:

Alotau Diocese

Health Secretary

PH:  641 1095

 

Youth Office

Ph:  641 0875

Sisters of the Immaculate KB

Ph:  641 0356

John Mazzocconi Hospital

Ph:  641 0703


Milne Bay Counselling Service Association


Milne Bay Counselling Services is a PNG based NGO, funded by Donor Agencies.  It operates with 5 staff members (3 females and 2 males) and 50+ volunteers based across 4 districts.  The service's primary focus is the elimination of violence against women and children.

The Counselling Service:

  • Provides counselling and mediation to the community
  • Provides information, training and awareness in the areas or human rights
  • Conducts advocacy on behalf of women, children and human rights
  • Presents a fortnightly radio program on family and gender-based violence
  • Provides paralegal services
  • Published a manual and information on Counselling Best Practices 

Contact:

Mrs. Anna-Latu Dickson

Milne Bay Counselling Service Association

P O Box 221, ALOTAU, Milne Bay Province

Ph:  (675) 641 0918

Facsimile: (675 641 0919

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Location:  Charles Abel Hwy, SPTE Yard


Alotau Family Support Centre


The Alotau Family Support Centre is in joint partnership with Milne Bay Counselling Service.  Its funding and daily operational costs are covered by the Alotau General Hospital and there is additional funding from UNICEF.

The Alotau FSC is the medical entry-point for victims of family, domestic and sexual violence.  After receiving medical care, the patients receive counselling from the Centre as well as appropriate social and legal information. 

Cases of domestic violence are referred by the Police and many come to the Centre as emergency hospital patients. 

Contact:

Alotau Family Support Centre

Alotau General Hospital, P O Box 402, ALOTAU  Milne Bay Province

Ph:  641 1200 / 641 0898 / 348 0235

Fax:  641 0040

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Office of the Public Prosecutor, Alotau


The core function of the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP) is the prosecution of matters in the National Courts and criminal appeals in the Supreme Court across PNG.  The Public Prosecutor is empowered under the Constitution to control the exercise and performance of the prosecution function of the State.  As part of the conduct of prosecutions the OPP has contact with victims of crime.

As part of its prosecution function the OPP provides an information and referral service to victims of crime whose matters are before the National and Supreme Courts.  This involves:

  • Liaison with victims of crime during the conduct of prosecutions in the superior courts.  Liaison with victims takes the form of referral to support services and provision of information as to the criminal justice process and court proceedings;
  • Support to victims during court proceedings; and
  • Assisting victims with preparation of Victim Impact Statements for presentation to the court at sentence hearings.

The OPP also makes submissions on behalf of the State as to the appropriate penalties that ought to be imposed by the superior courts following a conviction. 

Contact:

Ms. Helen Roalakona

Office of the Public Prosecutor – Alotau

P.O.Box 68, ALOTAU, MBP

 

Ph – 641 0929

fax- 641 0929,

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Caritas Papua New Guinea – Catholic Diocese Alotau


Caritas PNG is an agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of PNG & Solomon Islands. They promote Integral Human Development of the grassroots citizens of PNG.The mission of Caritas PNG is to take active role in social justice, peace, ecology, and human development issues as part of the pastoral mission of the Church, promote Catholic Social Teaching, address injustice, inequalities, poverty and dependency which undermine human dignity, and be a voice for the poor and marginalized to build a better PNG.

It has operates through main goals: Integral Human Development (IHD), Disaster & Relief Management, Helping the Poor and Marginalized, Research & Advocacy, Child Protection, Gender Equality, Ecological Stewardship & Care of God’s Creation, Democratic Governance.

  • Community mobilization and action program – Cooperative Society/Community Association formations and trainings).
  • Leadership training for Village Ward Councillors, Village Courts, and Peace Mediators, etc. Peace-building (conflict management, restorative justice, conflict mediation/)
  • Women’s empowerment (economic, leadership, personality)
  • Community leadership training.
  • Youth formation program for delinquent youths.
  • Male advocates for peace and development in communities.
  • Counselling services for victims of gender violence/sexual violence, and other forms of emotional restoration.

Contact:

Sr. Paola Orfano – Diocesan Caritas Coordinator

Catholic Diocese Alotau

 P O Box 105,Alotau,  Milne Bay Province

Ph:  641 1354

Fax: 641 1325

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National Youth Development Authority – Alotau, Milne Bay Province


The National Youth Development Authority is a government agency established to provide policy directives for the youth of PNG. It provides a framework for planning and program development for all agencies and organisations involved in youth development work. Inclusive in its policy area for stakeholders to develop and implement programs is Law Order and Justice with the objectives to promote, maintain safety, security and peace in communities.

  • Provide capacity building for stakeholders/program partners
  • Strengthen community policing programs at the Provincial, District and Ward level
  • Encourage community based peer leadership on crime prevention and restorative justice programs for young people
  • Educate young people on their Rights against abuse and violence
  • Indentify and market rehabilitation training programs
  • Establish partner with training and rehabilitation institutions
  • Maintain and monitor youth program/project

Contact:

Sunema Bagita

Milne Bay Provincial Administration & Comm. Development Office C/D Principal Advisor

The Provincial Administrator, Milne Bay Provincial Administration, Free Mail Bag, ALOTAU, Milne Bay Province

Office Ph: 641 1069/1192

Fax:641 1761/1402

Ph: 641 0946/0384 (Comm.Dev.)

Mobile: 7057 5452

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Vickii Wesly

Provincial Youth Coordinator

Division of Community Development, Milne Bay

Ph: 641 0384

Mobile: 71569670

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Livinai Lepani

District Community Provincial Officer

Division of Community Development, Milne Bay

Ph: 641 0384

Mobile:705 81559

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