the Establishment of Community Citizen’s Bureau in all Wards in the Country.

The Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone has on Thursday 9th June, held a Consultative meeting with the Fourty Nine, Western Urban and twenty Western Rural Counsilors, the sixteen Tribal Heads in the Western Area, Civil Society and the Fourth Estate. The meeting was geared towards the Establishment of Community Citizen’s Advisory Bureau in all Wards in the Country.  

Francis A. Gabbidon Esq, a  Scholar and a Gentleman, who was Chairman for this much needed, long awaited Consultative meeting, described the day as historic, and called the Legal Aid Board, a game-changer in the history and legality of Sierra Leone. This gentleman and Scholar pointed out that the lack of justice and fairness contributed to the war in Sierra Leone as was evident at the TRC, and that it was first in the history of the country that Citizen’s Advisory Bureaus are been created, which will serve as a deterrent to future conflicts.

The Legal Aid Board gives access to justice to those who cannot afford legal Services. With the inception of Citizen’s Advisory Bureaus, it’s not every matter that will be taken to the courts; the courts are congested, the police stations are overwhelmed and accommodations at the Correctional facilities are not in consistent with international standards.

Giving the Keynote address on behalf of the Chief Justice Hon Justice Abdulai Hamid Charm, Justice Monfred Sesay said that, according to section 120 of the 1991 Constitution Act No 6 of 1991, all judicial powers of Sierra Leone is vested in the Judiciary as headed by the Chief Justice. He went on to say that the administration of justice, including peaceful resolution of disputes; criminal or civil, is vested in the courts which constitutes the judiciary.

The Consultative meeting, Hon Justice Monfred Sesay said, was of paramount importance as it led to the formation of the Citizen Advisory Bureaus in the country, which will have to address hundreds matters which would have found their way into the formal courts.

Hon. Justice Adelizer Showers expressed appreciation to all in attendance and informed the house that the Legal Aid board was created by an Act of Parliament, to give legal access to the people. The Legal Aid Board has given Legal Education to people in different communities which will help to resolve civil disputes and criminal matters. To give legal aid to the people, Justice Showers said, requires legal personnel and other professionals, so the Board, coupled up with the Bar Association, the Sierra Leone Police, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, are working in close collaboration to achieve our goals.

His Worship the Mayor of Freetown, Counselor Bode Gibson, described the day as another mile stone in the history of Sierra Leone, as a more comfortable situation is being created for the people in their localities, to be able to express themselves well and obtain justice in a satisfactory manner. His Worship the Mayor pointed out that some people go to prison because of fear, as they do not feel comfortable in the formal court situation, which results to people going to jail. He said that people feel free to express themselves in their localities with their local authorities, neighbor and relatives. He also spoke about the training of Councillors as Paralegals, which will help our people and our democracy, to build confidence in our nation. He called on the Councillors and Tribal Heads to work towards the creation of the Citizen’s Advisory Bureaus with all the seriousness it deserves, to enhance justice at local level.

The Deputy Chairman, Western Rural District Council, Margaret Kargbo, thanked Government for the formation of the Legal Aid Board, as people who have been denied justice as a result of poverty, will be able to access justice through legal aid, and the creation of Citizen’s Advisory Bureaus will alleviate the problems of people in their localities because of the use of their local languages.  Deputy Chairman Magaret Kargbo spoke in the lingual franker, giving people the real feel of one expressing himself in his native tongue, otherwise known as the L1. She described the Consultative Meeting, as a benefit to the People of Sierra Leone.

Consultant Professor Memunata Pratt said that the formation of Citizen’s Advisory Bureaus will act as an agent of unity in communities. She said that one needs to get to the root of a problem to be able to clearly understand the main cause of the problem. Mrs Pratt informed the participants that they will be trained to be able to look keenly into matters, as they will be called upon to handle that area in society because of the strategic position they hold in their communities. The Bureaus, she said, will complement the Councillors and give people a clear picture of their importance.