That’s one of the many issues being pursued by the country’s attorney general, Titabu Tabane, at this week’s meeting of Commonwealth law ministers meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“We are interested in the outcome of discussion on legal drafting assistance. It’s an area where Kiribati lacks the expertise, Tabane told Pacnews.
“Previously, we were assisted with technical experts from Australia and New Zealand, who worked for us on contract but this, has stopped for unknown reasons,” he said.
Tabane said Kiribati needs to revive this legal assistance, seeking help from the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth law ministers have agreed to make available legal drafters to member countries, if they require assistance.
Kiribati needs assistance in legislative drafting, Tabane said.
“Often we are given model laws to work with, and we need legal drafters to prepare these pieces of legislation,” he added.
On juvenile justice, Tabane said his country will continue with the current practice.
“To change our system to create a different tier of court system for juvenile will be difficult. Their cases are dealt with in the main court with adults but are dealt with separately,” he said.
“While we want juvenile justice to work as proposed on paper, our real challenges are in the resources and financial requirements to set up a separate court system for young people, Tabane added.
Only three Pacific Island Countries law ministers — Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Tonga — are represented at the three day Commonwealth law ministers meeting.
