IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOLOMON ISLANDS
(Mwanesalua J)

Civil Cases No. 401 and 402 of 2011

IN THE MATTER OF MICHAEL KEVIN RIETVELD AND SALOME RIETVELD AND MICHAEL JUNIOR RIETVELD AND LOVELYN RIETVELD (Infants).

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION ACT 2004 (No. 4 of 2004)

Date of Hearing: 3 February 2012
Date of Ruling: 3 February 2012

Ms. Bird for the Applicants

RULING

The applicants are Michael Kevin Rietveld and Salome Rietveld. They were married on 31 January 2004. The applicants and the infants reside in a 3 bedroom house at the Bethesda Disability Centre, Henderson, East of Honiara. Michael (husband) works for the Bethesda Disability Centre as its Property Manager. He receives a fortnight salary in Solomon Islands dollars and Australian dollars per month. His wife Salome works as an Office Assistant at SWIM and receives a fortnightly salary.

The male child now named as Michael Junior Rietveld, will retain that name after adoption, is the child of Noelyn Lui and Alfred Wea born on the 27th July 2006 at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Noelyn is Salome's cousin sister and thus the child is the nephew of Salome.

Since her birth the child Lovelyn continuously lived with her mother Salome up to the year she met and married her husband Michael. Lovelyn who is currently named as Lovelyn Rietveld will retain that name after adoption.

Medical reports on both infants have been made. Both children are normal and healthy. The applicants have resources to adopt the infants.

The court is satisfied that applicants can adopt the infants under the provisions of the Adoption Act (No.4 of 2004). The Adoption orders sought in the applications is granted. Order accordingly.

THE COURT