Joseph v Joseph [2014] VUIC 1; [2014] VUICB 2; Civil Case 04 of 2012 (17 October 2014)

IN THE EFATE ISLAND COURT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
(Civil Jurisdiction)

CIVIL CASE N° 04 of 2012

BETWEEN:

ERNEST JOSEPH AND MICHAEL JOSEP, Of Erakor Village, Efate
CLAIMANT

AND:

ABIU JOSEPH, OBED JOSEPH, LUI JOSEPH
AND KALUAT JOSEPH, Of Erakor Village,
Efate
DEFENDANT

Coram: Hon. Justice Harry Joshua (Presiding Justice)
Hon. Justice Ann Carlo
Hon. Justice Eddie Karis

Court Clerk: Christina Shedrack

Date of Hearing: Monday 13th October – Thursday 16th October 2014

Date of Judgment: Friday 17th day of October 2014 - Time: 10:00 am

Court Venue: Dumbea, Port-Vila, Efaté, VANUATU

IN THE MATTER OF: FAMILY CUSTOMARY BIRTH RIGHTS

I kat wan Island Court Claim we ERNEST JOSEPH MO MICHAEL JOSEPH tufala faelem long Tuesday 31st dei blong manis July 2012. ERNEST JOSEPH MO MICHAEL JOSEPH i seekim long Court ia blong Court ia hemi declearem BIRTH RIGHTS blong Apu Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph (wife blong hem) wetem Cecil Joseph we hemi father blong tufala applicant iko long Ernest Joseph we hemi first born son blong Cecil Joseph we i first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph iko long Ernest Joseph towards every Kastom Properties mo registered kraon long Erakor Village.

Long matter blong Section 10 application long Efate Island Court ACT [CAP 167] mo hemi matter blong Kastomary Claim mo Kastomary Right blong Ernest Joseph mo Michael Joseph blong Erakor Village, South Efate.

JUDGEMENT

TOKTOK BLONG CLAIMANT ERNEST JOSEPH MO MICHAEL JOSEPH

History blong Claimant

Claimant hemi confirmem se papa blong hem late Cecil Joseph hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph. Apu blong hem late Joseph Kalsarur hemi ded samtaems long 1970's mo ati blong hem late Metu Joseph hemi dead long 2005. Hemi confirmem too se olgeta defendants Abiu Joseph, Obed Joseph, Lui Joseph mo Kaluat Joseph oli bin stap refusim blong meeting mo toktok gud wetem claimant over long ol properties mo kraon blong tufala olfala ia Late Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph mo oli stap sakem sam strong toktok agensem olgeta oltaem we claimant hemi stap traem blong approachem ol defendants.
Claimant i confirmem too se natin we olgeta defendant oli stap refiusim olgeta, be oli save gud se papa blong olgeta late Cecil hemi gat birth right blong apu blong olgeta late Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph. Long "EJ2"statement blong ol defendant hemi rivilim gud se Cecil Joseph we emi papa blong tufala claimant hemi first born son blong late Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph.

Claimant hemi continue blong talem se, i gat wan declaration blong Land Case No.3 of 1994, we hemi Tankaro mo Tassiriki we court I declarem ol new land owner iko long Abiu Joseph, we hemi no stret from we oli haedem name blong Cecil Joseph we i mared mo gat pikinine we mi (Claimant) mi first born son blong hem, we name blong mi nao I should stap long declaration ia, from mi surviving first born son blong late Cecil Joseph we hemi bigfala brata blong Abiu Joseph.

Follem declaration ia, Obed Joseph hemi setamap wan bisnis blong "Real Estate" we oli kolem "Tanmalus Company" mo hemi stap benefit bigwan long money we i kamaot long kraon ia from hem nao istap signem ol consent mo ol mortage about kraon ia we igat bigfala subdivision istap long hem. Hemi stap givem sam money iko long ol narafala brata blong hem mo cousions blong hem mekem se oli saedem hem iko long kruked bisnis ia istap mo oli no save toktok, from hem nao I boss blong company ia.

Claimant hemi stap askem long Court blong mekem wan orders we i proper blong givem direction long hem blong save mekem variation long declaration blong case no: 03 of 1994 mo blong save stoppem Obed Joseph blong signem ol documents blong land blong olgeta, nating se longfala taem i pass. Claimant i bilive se right blong hem hemi infringed wetem declaration we i kamaot long 1994 long land case no: 03 of 1994 mo hemi save se hemi late tumas be justice imas prevail long ples ia.

WITNESS N° 1 BLONG CLAIMANT: 'CHIEF DENNY KALMET NMAK'

Witness ia hemi witnessem long court ia se hemi Chief blong Erakor Village mo hemi stap witnessem statement blong Claimant Ernest Joseph we papa blong hem Cecil Joseph we hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph:-

• Witness i confirmem se Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph igat ol pikinini we Cecil Joseph papa blong tufala claimant nao hemi first born son blong tufala.
• Follem kastom FIRSTBORN son nao hemi stap take over long ol work mo kastom properties blong papa blong hem tru long claim we istap long Efate Island Court tedi we hemi klia se late Cecil Joseph nao hemi gat birth right blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Kalsarur.
• Although tufala parties long case ia oli stap askem court blong mekem proper ruling long case blong olgeta, mi olsem kastom chief blong tufala parties iwish tumas blong luk se tufala parties imas kam tugeta olsem wan, from we imas gat promotion blong peace long community blong mifala long Erakor Village, especially ol families we oli stap raorao oli mas sortemaot ol differences blong olgeta long wan diligent mo respectiful manner.
  

WITNESS N° 2 BLONG CLAIMANT: 'PASTOR HARON KALOPONG'

Witness ia Pastor Haron Kalopong hemi gat 48years old, hemi blong Erakor Village.
Hemi kam bifo this court blong witnessem claim we Plaintiff hemi faelem long court ia:

• Mi confirmem se Late Cecil Joseph Kalsarur hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur we hemi married mo gat pikinine mo hemi true se claimant Ernest Joseph hemi first born son blong Late Cecil Joseph
• Family tree blong claimant hemi stret, Ernest Joseph hemi first born son blong late Cecil Joseph, late Cecil Joseph hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph hemi first born son blong Kalsarur Lisau.
  

WITNESS N° 3 BLONG CLAIMANT: 'CAROL KALPRAM'

Witness ia Carol Kalpram hemi gat 46years, hemi blong Erakor Village.
Hemi kam bifo this court blong witnessem claim we Plaintiff hemi faelem long court ia:

• Mi gel blong Michel Kalpram brata blong Arsen Kalpram tufala i boy blong Kalpram smol brother blong Kalsarur we tufala i boy blong Lisau mo Lamen
• Mi tu mi part blong family we Island Court emi declarem mifala lo 17/06/1994 olsem custom honor blong graon Title 376 start long Tankaro kasem Tasiriki
• Mi confirmem tu se statement blong Ernest Joseph mo Michael Joseph hemi stret mo hemi true.
• Ernest Joseph nao hemi gat right long Birth Right ia
• Kastom blong Erakor taem papa i dead first born son nao hemi gat right long Birth Right ia
  

History blong Defendant

Defendants Abiu Joseph, hemi confirem se late Cecil Joseph we hemi papa blong tufala claimant i born long early 40's, mo tufala I slip, kakai, skul mo grow up long wan house nomo hemia long Erakor Island. Long 1995 late Cecil iaot long wan wiken mo ko luk ol family blong papa blong mifala long Erasa, ples we tedei yumi kolem Nambatri, ples we nambatri dispenseri istap long hem, mo inomo kambak. Mifala 4 brata mo 1 sista istap wetem late papa mo mama blong mifala kasem 1960 mo movaot long Erakor Island mo ko long main land we tedei emi Erakor Village. Long taem ia mifala stap wetem late papa mo mama blong mifala long karen mo tufala istap soem long mifala ol ples mo stap talem aot long mifala se ples ia iblong wanem olfala mo olsem wanem nao hemi kivim, taem ia tu late papa blong mifala istap mekem karen, planem ol coconas mo stap sherem long mifala.

WITNESS N° 1 BLONG DEFENDANTS 'LUI JOSEPH'

Witness ia Lui Joseph hemi gat 66 years, hemi blong Erakor Village.
Hemi kam bifo this court blong witnessem claim we Defendant hemi faelem long court ia:

• Mi Lui Joseph, mi blong Erakor Village, Efate.
• Mi wantem talem aot long ples ia se response statement blong defendant hemi stret mo true everywan.
  

WITNESS N° 2 BLONG DEFENDANTS 'KALUAT JOSEPH'

Witness ia Kaluat Joseph hemi gat 60 years, hemi blong Erakor Village.
Hemi kam bifo this court blong witnessem claim we Defendant hemi faelem long court ia:

• Mi Kaluat Joseph, mi blong Erakor Village, Efate.
• Mi wantem talem aot long ples ia se response statement blong defendant hemi stret mo true everywan.
  

WITNESS N° 3 BLONG DEFENDANTS 'OBED JOSEPH'

Witness ia Obed Joseph hemi gat 64 years, hemi blong Erakor Village.
Hemi kam bifo this court blong witnessem claim we Defendant hemi faelem long court ia:

• Mi Obed Joseph, mi blong Erakor Village, Efate.
• Mi wantem talm aot long ples ia se respond blong statement blong defendant hemi stret mo true everywan.
  

WITNESS N° 4 BLONG DEFENDANTS 'WAIA ARSEN LISAU'

Witness ia Waia Arsen Lisau hemi gat 43 years, hemi blong Erakor Village.
Hemi kam bifo this court blong witnessem claim we Defendant hemi faelem long court ia:

• Mi Waia Arsen Lisau, mi blong Erakor Village
• Mi save talem se mi tu mi part blong family we Island Court hemi declarem mifala long 09th December 1994 olsem kastom ona blong graon title 376 start long Tankaro i kam kasem Tasiriki.
• Mi wandem talem se yes, hemi true statement blong defendant hemi stret mo hemi true everywan.
• Mi confirm se, Cecil Joseph hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph Kalsarur.
  

1. Witness No.4 nao hemi confirmem se, Ernest Joseph hemi first born son blong Cecil Joseph Kalsarur;
2. Witness No.4 nao hemi confirmem se, Ernest Joseph nao hemi gat right over long Birth Right blong Cecil Joseph papa blong hem;
3. Witnes No.4 nao hemi comfirmem tu se, Family Tree blong Claimant Ernest Joseph hemi hemi true.
   

FINDINGS BLONG COURT

✓ Court i finem aot se ERNEST JOSEPH mo MICHAEL JOSEPH tufala i pikinini blong Cecil Joseph Kalsarur mo Mina Joseph.
✓ Court i finem aot se ERNEST JOSEPH nao hemi gat right over long Birth Right blong papa blong hem Cecil Joseph we hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph.
✓ CECIL JOSEPH, hemi stret pikinini blong JOSEPH KALSARUR mo METU JOSEPH KALSARUR
✓ Follem FAMILY TREE Descendants Chart blong Lisau ikam down long Kalsarur Lisau kasem Joseph Kalsarur mo kasem Cecil Joseph Kalsarur we hem nao hemi first born son blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph Kalsarur we hemi papa blong tufala claimant we hemi Ernest Joseph mo Michael Joseph.
✓ Court i finem aot se defendant Abiu Joseph ideniem right blong Ernest Joseph mo Michael Joseph.
✓ Court i finem aot se defendant Abiu Joseph hemi supportem olgeta pikinini blong Late Cecil Joseph long olgeta statement blong hem se olgeta oli wan family nomo.
✓ Court i finem aot tu se defendant Abiu Joseph hemi no talem aot true toktok inside long Court, from all the way along long statement blong hem, hemi talem aot se "Mifala wan family nomo" follem letter blong hem we hemi "EJ2" long 11th January 2011, se "Joseph mo Metu Kalsarur tufala i gat 11 pikinini, mo Cecil we hemi papa blong yufala hemi no.5 born inside long family".
✓ Court i finem aot se yufala ol defendant mo claimant yufala family ibin work together since 1994 to 2001, mo 2002 ibin gat jenis long komiti blong Tanmalus company mo yufala ol defendants i disaed blong step down mo family Cecil oli move in long new komiti mo usem sharing blong vatu we hemia nao i cause division between yufala ol family Joseph kasem tedei.
✓ Court i finem aot se ol Photos we claimant hemi providem inside long court i confirm se Cecil Joseph hemi stret pikinini blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph Kalsarur.

OBSERVATION

1. Raet blong wan man i olsem pemisen blong mekem or klemem wan property we neva nara man i save tekemaot long hem. Ol raet i kam wetem responsabiliti blong kat rispek tu long raet blong everiwan. Every human i born wetem ol raet mo hemi part blong human neja. Konstitusen anda long Atikel 5(1) hemi stap provaedem ol fundamental raet mo lqwel proteksen anda long loa long Atikel 5(2).
2. Yufala everywan i wan family nomo;
3. Yufala i no mas rao rao between each other;
4. Yufala everywan i mas join together follem fasin blong Kastom;
5. Yufala everywan i mas join together long peace wetem unity blong save live together.
   

DECLARATION BLONG COURT

Court ia hemi stap declare se:

1. Every Family blong Joseph Kalsarur includem Ernest Jospeh mo Michael Joseph, yufala everywan ikat equal right long every properties blong Joseph Kalsarur mo Metu Joseph Kalsarur.
2. Ol sharings blong ol Custom Properties we ikamaot long ol properties i blong yufala everywan.
   

COURT ORDER:

Court ia i stap mekem order olsem:

1. Tufala parties Defendant mo Claimant tufala imas mekem reconciliation between each other;
2. Court i givem Three Months (3) long tufala parties blong mekem reconciliation start today date 17th dei October 2014;
3. Court hemi givem order tu se, tufala parties ino mas raorao between each other, be oli mas go back together long fasin blong Kastom blong mekem reconciliation blong kamback wan bageken olsem bifo;
4. Any parties we ino happi long Decision hemi gat right blong appeal within 30 days start from today 17th dei blong manis October 2014.
   

Dated at Port Vila, this 17th day of October 2014

BY THE COURT

................................................... .............................................
Justice Harry Joshua Justice Eddie Karis
(Presiding Justice)

...................................................

Justice Ann Carlo