FIVE lawyers became magistrates after taking their oath on Thursday before Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer in the High Court.
They Ricky Iomea, Fatima Taeburi, and Edwin Saramo, who are now principal magistrates; and first class magistrates Natalie Kesaka and Augustine Aulanga.
Three of them – Mr Iomea, Mrs Kesaka, and Mr Aulanga – have worked in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) before taking up their new posts.
Mr Iomea has served for almost 10 years, Mrs Kesaka for almost eight years, and Mr Aulanga for almost six years.
Ms Taeburi worked previously with the ODPP for five years before joining the Attorney General’s Chambers where she worked for almost two years.
Mr Saramo first worked in the Public Solicitor’s Office before moving on to become the Registrar of Companies.
Speaking to the media after their swearing in, Mr Saramo said he decided to join the Magistrate’s Court because it offered a better career path.
“As a lawyer there is a better chance for me to move up the ladder,” he said.
He added as Registrar of Companies, he was merely doing administration work.
“I have been waiting for an opportunity like this so here I am.”
Both Mrs Kesaka and Mr Iomea said their decisions to join the Magistrate were to try out something new and challenging.
“I wanted to serve the people and country in a different work area,” Mr Iomea added.
Another reason for their decision is that of the shortage of magistrate, which they wanted to assist in the area.
Mr Aulanga told the Solomon Star he decided to join the Magistrate’s Court because that path would lead him to his ultimate goal of becoming a High Court judge one day.
He said it is timely that he joined the bench while he is still young so he can equip himself with the necessary experience before becoming a judge.
Mrs Taeburi said she decided to join the Magistrates improvement of working terms and conditions of magistrates.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Kouhota welcomed his new colleagues, saying he is happy with the increased number of magistrates.
He said they will now able to speed up the pending cases, and that workloads will reduce.
“All districts and the provinces will now their own magistrates stationed there,” Mr Kouhota said.
“People in the province will now have easy access to the courts in their respective province rather than coming to the Magistrates’ Court in Honiara for their cases.”
Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer formally assured the new magistrates that they will not be left alone to struggle in the dark.
“We will endeavour to ensure that you are properly equipped from the outset with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to carry out your duties,” Sir Albert said.
He told the new magistrates that they are the most suitable candidates to take up such honourable, responsible, and demanding tasks of a Magistrate by virtue of their past track records, performances and achievements.
Sir Albert said the appointments have not been taken lightly for the duties, roles and responsibilities of a Magistrate are tough and will require strength and courage on their part to fulfil them.
“But it is for that very reason you have been selected and entrusted with the responsibility of not only protecting and maintaining the independence, reputation and integrity of the Courts in the country but that you will also be able to deliver justice timely, fairly and impartially.
“Your appointments, I would want to believe, marks an important shift or phase in the recruitment process for the Magistracy that no longer will we struggle to recruit and fill vacancies in the Magistracy but that will from here on be a competitive process based on merit.
“That is, those who want or are thinking of joining the Magistracy or the Bench must demonstrate an extremely high level of commitment, dedication and integrity from the outset in their work places.”
He said hopefully it is now a thing of the past to make do with what they have and receive.
Sir Albert trusts these new appointments mark a new trend in the calibre of lawyers joining the bench.
He is delighted by the results, which is unprecedented and looks forward to better outcomes and a marked improvement in the delivery of justice to our people by the Magistrates’ Court.
“Your appointments are also significant in that they signify the first intake after the position of a Magistrate has been elevated to that of a Constitutional Post.
“With the increases and improvements in the terms and conditions and salary levels come the corresponding expectations of the community on that elevated position which must equally be reciprocated in your service and work and also in your social and other commitments.
“The integrity and reputation of the office must be protected at all times.”
Of this new intake of five magistrates, Sir Albert said one Principal Magistrate will be posted to Gizo for Western Province and another to Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province.
He said a first class magistrate will be posted to Lata, Temotu, while a principal magistrate and first class magistrate will be based in Honiara.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
