The Executive Director, has presented the eagerly awaited Report on the Central Lorry Park, otherwise known as ‘Clay Factory’.

The Executive Director, has presented the eagerly awaited Report on the Central Lorry Park, otherwise known as ‘Clay Factory’.

The Executive Director, Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone, Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles has presented the eagerly awaited Report on the outcome of Legal Aid Board’s intervention into and the investigation of the long running conflict at the Freetown Central Lorry Park, otherwise known as ‘Clay Factory’.

Three recommendations made in the report were that, 1. Every claimant will hold on their plots as a freehold property, 2. The plot claimants will only pay the sum Two Million Leones (Le2m), which is quite a minimal sum for a plot of land for commercial purposes in the Western Area, and 3. That the complex will be used for the purposes of a lorry park and a market for trading and for a weekly trade fair, commonly called ‘Luma’.

The complex will become the hub for business in Sierra Leone.

Leaders of the different trader and driver groups, showered praises on His Excellency The President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, for promoting peace in commerce in the country which the said will bring about prosperity in the lives of the people, and also showered praises on the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board for using her legal skills of persuasion to bring about peace to the groups occupying the complex.

By: Derick Nat George
Public Relation officer (LAB)

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

As a Lawyer who has practiced in Sierra Leone before joining the international tribunal, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, I have seen firsthand how accused persons had to endure countless adjournments and months on remand due to lack of legal advice and representation.

My experience working with the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board since its establishment in May 2015 has broadened my understanding of the depth of the challenges plaguing the formal and traditional justice systems.

I have visited overcrowded prisons and police cells around the country. I have seen many accused persons literally abandoned in prison either because they cannot secure a bail or have not been with an indictment. Some have spent more time in remand than the maximum sentence for the crimes they are alleged to have committed. I have seen victims of domestic violence, rape and discrimination on the basis of gender resort to divine intervention because they cannot afford the cost of accessing justice.

I have seen powerful self-styled local lawyers run the show in the local/traditional courts and in the process abuse the rights of people and the Local Court Act 2011.

We have engaged and canvassed the views of agencies in the justice sector, Parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations. The interest in and expectations of the organization are heartwarming but also breathtaking.

This is what drives our commitment to deliver on our mandate to make justice accessible to those who have been left out because they are poor. For a start, we will deploy Paralegals in Police Stations in the capital and the 149 chiefdoms in the country to monitor Local Courts to ensure their activities are consistent with national laws and international human rights standards. Also, we will hire 100 Lawyers to provide free legal services to our clients.

This is without doubt a tall order considering the organization is new and the resources at its disposal are far from being adequate. We are convinced with support from the government, donors and well-wishers we can make a world of difference in the lives of ordinary people and in the process contribute to restoring much needed confidence in the justice system.