Reforms hold MPs accountable

By DYLAN MURRAY
THE State will look into strengthening the Office of the Public Solicitor so citizens can hold MPs accountable, says Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape said the Office of the Public Solicitor would be made to act as an apparatus for the public to use the courts to address government decisions with which they did not agree. “Court is the place you can run to challenge something you feel is not in the best interest of the people,” he said.
Marape said a proposal was made and the reform of the court system was underway.
Specifically for the Court of Appeal, to allow citizens to challenge any of the Government’s decisions, laws or treaties, if they felt it was not in the best interest of the country.
Marape said citizens should also be educated on the court system and how to use it.
There are processes that one can follow to get the information they need and have their voices heard.
Marape was responding to questions raised by Nipa-Kutubu MP Dr Billy Joseph in relation to the Defence Cooperation and Ship Rider agreements signed with the United States.
Joseph noted the recent student strikes over the agreements saying they had objections to it, because they felt the agreement violated the country’s constitution and sovereignty.
He went on to ask whether it was possible for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to provide lawyers free of charge for students to take their complaints through court.
Meanwhile, public solicitor Leslie Mamu recently highlighted a shortage of lawyers in the Public Solicitors Office in their 2022 report.
Mamu said the number of people seeking legal aid had increased over the years.