Regional legal drafters have been urged by Chief Justice Salesi Temo to develop policies that are unique to the Pacific.
In his address to the Inaugural Pacific Legislative Drafters Steering Committee Conference in Nadi this week, Justice Temo said while legal drafters were often the unsung heroes of government, they hold a key role in putting together a legislation of democracy.
“Our region faces many challenges such as climate change, transnational crime, economic vulnerability and rapid critical transformation to name a few,” said Justice Temo.
“These issues are complex, and they demand legal responses that are not only informed but also context specific.
“No single country can address these alone. That is why regional cooperation, capacity-sharing and institutional strengthening must remain central to our efforts.”
Justice Temo said regional legislation needed to meet the needs of its people.
“While our legal system is rooted in inherited frameworks, those structures do not always reflect the realities of Pacific Island nations.
“We need to take a more active role in shaping laws that serve our needs and priorities.”
The Chief Justice said legal drafters were central to this role and to governance.
“Often working behind the scenes, legislative drafters are among the unsung heroes of governance.
“You are the architect of the rule of law, translating policies into practice.
“The clarity, precision and foresight you bring into your work shapes the legal environment for generations to come.”
A first of its kind, the Pacific Legal Drafters Conference in Nadi brought together members of the Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network (PILON) who put focus on the theme Developing Laws of the Pacific by the Pacific for the Pacific.
