𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐛𝐲

The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency William Soaki, met with nine magistrates from Solomon Islands who were in Port Moresby attending the Magistrates Judicial Orientation Program from 1 to 3 October 2025.

The brief meeting held at the Solomon Islands High Commission office provided an opportunity for the High Commissioner to welcome the delegation to Port Moresby and to extend his best wishes for their participation in the program.

The Orientation Program, developed by the Magisterial Service of Papua New Guinea and facilitated through the PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence (PNGCJE) under the oversight of the National Judicial Staff Service (NJSS), is designed for magistrates from both Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

The program follows international best practices for judicial orientation while being tailored to the unique cultural and legal contexts of the Pacific. Its content reflects the shared Melanesian heritage of both countries, giving the program a distinct regional character and relevance. It aims to provide participants with a strong foundation for their judicial responsibilities.

In his remarks, High Commissioner Soaki underscored the importance of the program and encouraged the magistrates to make the most of the opportunity to learn and exchange experiences. He emphasized that the initiative demonstrates the strength of Melanesian and regional cooperation in judicial capacity building.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Principal Magistrate Ms. Tearo Beneteti thanked the High Commissioner for his warm welcome and hospitality.

She noted that the orientation workshop offers a valuable opportunity for magistrates to enhance their professional skills and strengthen the judiciary’s capacity to deliver justice fairly and effectively.

For many participants, this is their first time attending such a program. They expressed their gratitude to the PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence and the Government of Papua New Guinea for organizing and funding their participation.

The magistrates returned to Honiara on Saturday, 4 October 2025.

[𝐌𝐅𝐀𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄]