On the Occasion  of the Opening  of the National and Supreme  Court Complex

Salutation  and Acknowledgement

•   Master  of  Ceremony   –   Justice   Panuel  Mogish, CSM

•   His Excellency the Governor  General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, GCl,  GCMG,  KStJ

•   Hon. Chief Justice Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika, GCl, KBE,CSM,OBE                              ~

•   Hon. Parliamentary  Speaker Job Pomat, CMG, MP

•   Deputy Prime Minister – Hon John Rosso, MP

•   Minister for Justice  & Attorney-General,   Hon. Pila Niningi, CMG, llB,    MP

•   Honourable  Ministers,

•   Members  of Parliament

•  The Chief Secretary,

•  Members of the diplomatic  corps,

•  Judges of the Supreme  Court, National  Court, and Court of Appeal,

•  Staff of the National Judicial Services,

•   Representatives    of  China   Railway  Construction Engineering  PNG Ltd,

•   Representatives  of Peddle Thorp Australia,

•   Former  and  present   public  servants,   engineers and tradespeople,

•   Pastor Winnie  Lonol,

•   Fellow citizens  of Papua New Guinea,

•   Ladies and gentlemen.

Today,  we  gather  at  a  truly  historic   moment   in  our nation’s  journey.   We  are  here  to  officially  open  this magnificent  courthouse-a     new home for our Supreme Court  and  our  National   Court.  This  is  more  than  a building  of  concrete  and  glass.  It  is  a  monument  to justice,  a symbol  of our democracy,  and a commitment to the future of Papua New Guinea.

The Journey  Since 1975

When   Papua   New  Guinea   became   independent   in 1975, our founding  fathers  gifted  us a Constitution  and a system  of government  that has withstood  the test of time. At the heart of that Constitution  was the judiciary, entrusted  to interpret and protect the rule of law.

In those  early  years,  the  court  system  was  modest. Cases were heard in smaller,  improvised  facilities, sometimes   in  borrowed   buildings.   Yet,   despite   the limited resources, justice was carried out, and the foundation  of our democracy  was strengthened.

As our population grew, as our economy expanded, and as disputes  became  more complex,  the burden on our judiciary  increased.  For too  long, our courts  operated from facilities that were outdated and overcrowded.  The vision for a modern national courthouse  was conceived many years ago, nurtured  by successive  governments and generations  of judges.

Today,  after decades  of perseverance,  that vision has been realised.

Foundations  in the Constitution

Our Constitution  is clear in its design:

•       Section  99(2) enshrines  three co-equal arms of      government    –      the    Legislature,    the Executive, and the Judiciary.

•       Section   99(3)   reinforces   the   principle   of separation  of powers,  protecting  the integrity of our democracy.

•       Section  157 guarantees  the independence  of the Judiciary, shielding judicial decisions from outside influence.

Within   this  framework,   the  Judiciary   stands   as  the guardian    of  justice   –     interpreting   laws,   upholding constitutional  rights, and providing impartial recourse for every citizen.

Honouring  Judicial  Leaders

Let us honour those who  have led our Judiciary  since independence:

•       Sir   Sydney   Frost   (1975-1977)    –    guided PNG’s courts in their formative years.

•       Sir     William      Prentice      (1977-1980) remembered for    landmark     constitutional judgments.

•       Sir Buri Kidu  (1980-1993)   –  our first  Papua New   Guinean   Chief  Justice,   who   secured financial  independence  for the  Judiciary.

•       Sir Arnold Amet  (1993-2003)   –  consolidated judicial  reforms.

•       Sir Mari Kapi (2003-2008)  –  distinguished  for jurisprudence.

•       Sir Salamo  Injia (2008-2018)   –  who initiated this very project.

•       Sir Gibbs Salika (2018-present)   –  embracing technology and reform, enhancing  efficiency and international  recognition.

Each of these leaders built upon the work of their predecessors,   and  together   they   have   shaped   the Judiciary  into the institution we celebrate today.

An Investment   in Justice

Our government  has invested over K700 million to complete  this modern  complex.  When  my government came to office in 2019, we made it a priority to provide the financing  needed to bring this project to completion.

But let me be clear: this is not simply an investment  in a building.  It is an  investment  in the  very  principle  that holds our country together-justice.

A democracy cannot stand without strong and independent courts. Investors cannot place their confidence   in  our  economy  without  a  reliable  justice system. Our people cannot   enjoy  peace   in  their communities  without  courts to settle disputes fairly.

This courthouse  is a gift to mark our 50th anniversary  of independence.  It is a gift not only to the legal fraternity, but to every  citizen  who  believes  in fairness,  equality, and  the  rule  of  law.  And  it will  serve  generations   of Papua New Guineans  to come.

One Law, One Nation

Papua New Guinea is the most diverse  nation on earth. Over  800   languages,   more  than   1,000  tribes,   and countless  customs  and  traditions  make  up our  social fabric.

Ours is not borrowed  diversity-it is authentic  diversity, rooted in thousands  of years of history.

What  then  binds  us together  as one  nation?  It is not language    or tribe.  It is  not wealth  or status.  It is the Constitution  of Papua New Guinea.

It is the principle that one law, one rulebook,  must apply equally to all of us.

The   big  or  small,  the  educated   or  uneducated,   the landowner  or policymaker,  the foreign  investor  or the local entrepreneur-every      single  one  of  us  is  equal before the law.This  courthouse  stands as a permanent reminder of that equality.

Democracy  and the Rule of Law

As we reflect on 50 years of nationhood,  let me reaffirm to all Papua New Guineans: there is no alternative form of government more suited to our country than democracy.

Other systems  may appear enticing  or efficient.  But for a nation  as diverse  and complex  as ours, democracy remains the only way to guarantee that every citizen has a voice, that every community  has representation,  and that every dispute  is resolved under one law.

Our courts  are the guardians  of that democracy.  They are  the  watchmen   of  our  nation,  the  lighthouse that shines  light  into  the  dark  corners  where  lawlessness may grow.

Without courts, there is no justice.  Without justice, there is no democracy.  And  without  democracy,  there  is no Papua New Guinea.

Restructuring  for the Future

This courthouse  also signals  a new chapter  of reform. On the recommendation   of the Chief Justice,  and with the support of Parliament, we have amended the Constitution  to create a three-tier  higher court system.

For the first time in our history, we now have a structured pathway  from  the  National  Court,  to  a  newly  created Court of Appeal,  and then to the Supreme  Court. This reform ensures efficiency, reduces backlogs, and strengthens   confidence   in the  fairness  of  our judicial process.

Cases  today   are  more  complex   than  they  were  in 1975-ranging    from billion-kina  commercial  disputes, to intricate land matters, to constitutional questions. Our judiciary   must  be  equipped  to  handle  these  matters. That is why we are appointing  more competent  judges, and introducing arbitration and mediation to resolve disputes swiftly.

But our commitment  does  not end at the top. We are strengthening  the  entire  law and justice  sector-from the highest courts to village courts, from magistrates to land  dispute  committees,   from  police  to  correctional services.  Justice  must be accessible,  efficient,  and fair for every citizen.

Our Commitment   as We Reset for the Next 50 Years

As Prime Minister,  I give this pledge:  law and order is the number one priority of my government  as we enter the next 50 years of nationhood.

This majestic courthouse  is part of that commitment,  but it is not the end. In the years ahead, we will:

•       Strengthen  and resource the judiciary.

•       Support  and  train  magistrates,  village  court officials, police, and correctional  services.

•        Ensure  that  every  Papua  New  Guinean-whether in the heart of Port Moresby or in the remotest village-has access to justice.

I call upon every citizen to do your part. Respect the law. Respect the courts. From the office worker in the city, to the  farmer  in the  village,  to the  entrepreneur,   to the public  servant-living lawfully  is the  first  and greatest contribution  we can make to our country.

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge  the  Chief Justice  and members  of the judiciary for their dedication, persistence, and independence.   I thank  past governments  for  initiating this project.  I especially  honour all Chief Justices, past and present, whose  leadership  and vision have guided our judiciary for five decades.

And  I am proud that  since  2019,  my government  has provided the  resources  and  leadership  to  deliver  the completion  of this courthouse.

This building is a collective achievement,  but more importantly,  it is a collective  promise-a     promise  that Papua New Guinea will always remain a democracy governed  by the rule of law.

Closing

As we open these doors today, let us renew our pledge: one people, one nation, one country-united     under one Constitution,  one judiciary,  and one rule of law.

May  these   doors   never  close   to  any  Papua   New Guinean seeking justice.  May this courthouse  stand not only as a building of law, but as a symbol of who we are and what we aspire to be-a    nation bound by fairness, equality, and democracy.

Thank you, and may God bless Papua New Guinea.