Legal Aid
meets Kenema stakeholders
By Santigie
Kamara
The Mayor of Kenema City, Joseph S
Kaifala, has on Tuesday 26th September 2016 showered praises on the
role of Legal Aid Board in Sierra
Leone, adding that they are making it possible for those who could not afford
to hire the service of a lawyer to access justice.
Mayor Kaifala made this disclosure to
the indigenes of Kenema and it immediate environs while serving as the Chairman
of the occasion at the District Council Hall during an engagement Legal Aid
Board had with stakeholders in that part of the country.
He informed the gathering that the
Legal Aid Board is one of the greatest opportunities the government of
President Koroma has done for those who could not afford to hire the services
of a lawyer.
Mayor Kaifala informed the gathering
that quite a considerable number of people in Kenema City and beyond lost their
cases in the court of law because in the past, they could not afford to hire
the services of legal representation.
“It is a great blessing for us to
have the Legal Aid Board in Kenema City,” he said, adding that the most burning
issue that is affecting them is the indiscriminate manner in which Commercial
Motorcycle Riders are being charged to court and incarcerated in jail for minor
offences.
Mayor Joseph S. Kaifala affirmed that
when Commercial Motorcycle Riders are found guilty in court, most of them could
not afford to pay the whooping amounts of Six hundred thousand Leones imposed
on them as a fine which is why they had to serve their jail sentences in most
cases.
He made it clear that there is a
provision in the Road Traffic Act for minimal fines for traffic offences,
noting that the Legal Aid Board should step in and mediate between the police
and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority on one hand and the Commercial
Motorcycle Riders on the other hand to explore alternative sentencing. ‘Traffic
offenders could be asked to pay a minimal amount when tickets are issued to
them,’ Mayor Kaifala said.
The head of Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata
Claire Carlton-Hanciles informed the gathering that when President Koroma
attended the UN Summit in New York recently, he informed the world body about
the stance taken by his government to address access to justice. She affirmed
that Legal Aid Board was formed by an Act of Parliament in a bid to attend to
community problems and settle disputes amicably between disputing parties.
Ms. Carlton–Hanciles said certain disputes should not be in court
because they are minor matters that ought to be addressed at community level by
stakeholders. She catalogued the role they are playing with the support of the
government of President Koroma, adding that there are loads of cases in the
respective courts and they must support the law.
Paramount Chief of Jawai Chiefdom, G. Kallon expressed appreciation about the
presence of Legal Aid Board in Kenema District and other parts of the country,
noting that it will mitigate the crime rates that has already eclipsed his
Chiefdom. The Paramount Chief assured of his support, adding that his door is
opened to the Board and he will inform his subjects accordingly about the
progress.
The Assistant Inspector General of
Police Eastern Region, Alfred Karrow Kamara said the idea of Legal Aid is not a
new phenomenon in the world. He dilated extensively on the merits people will
derive form the Board, pointing out that it will help them immensely in
addressing minor matters that are flooding the court rooms.
The Commanding Officer of Kenema
battalion, Major Katta also spoke about the importance of Legal Aid Board in
that part of the country and how it will improve on the justice sector.
The Provisional Secretary East,
George Penykie said the Board will help to look into issues that have the
propensity of escalating to conflict. He assured all of their support to the Board,
noting that so many organizations have sprout up and vanished into the thin
air. Penykie expressed optimism that the Legal Aid Board will stand the test of
time.
The programme was climaxed with
questions, discussions and contributions from the participants who pledged their
unflinching support to the Board.
By: Joseph Dumbuya
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