Skip to main content

Legal Aid praise peaceful nature of launch in Bo

Legal Aid praise peaceful nature of launch in Bo.




The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles has praised the people of Bo city for coming out in their thousands to grace the launch of the Legal Aid Office in Bo. The Director was particularly impressed with the peaceful manner the people conducted themselves. ‘Even though we had in the audience people from different political parties and shades of opinion, the launch passed off without any incident,’ she said. ‘There was plenty of drumming and dancing and most importantly the message went down very well. Everybody appreciate what the Board is doing and happy to work with us’
The Executive Director had this to say regarding the statements made by stakeholders including civil society, the Sierra Leone Motor Drivers Union and the Traders Council: ‘None of the speakers was critical of our operations or independence,’ she said.
The Executive Director rubbished rumours peddled by cynics in the media that most of the beneficiaries of the scheme in Bo are hardcore criminals. She pointed out that the Board recruited lawyers for the upcountry offices including Bo in August 2016 and deployed them in September 2016.
Giving updates on the provision of legal assistance to indigents in Bo, she said that the Board has secured discharges for ten indigent remand inmates charged with loitering, obtaining money by false pretense, fraudulent conversion, assault and wounding.
‘It’s not true that those whose discharge we have secured are ravaging Bo city,’ she said.  ‘As a matter of fact, none of our few beneficiaries in Bo has reoffended. You can check this with the police and the stakeholders including the Regional Chairperson of Civil Society Organizations for the Southern Province, Jeremy Simbo.’
 Also the Board is currently representing seven indigent remand cases at the High Court, eighteen at the Magistrate Court and two in the Juvenile Court.
The Executive Director has described the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara as one of the biggest assets to the Legal Aid Board. She was also quick to remind people that while the Board is independent and not subject to instructions from any politician, it is under the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

‘The Attorney General has contributed to attracting the crowds to our events in addition to explaining government’s  policy and actions in promoting the justice delivery system which by the way is good for the work of the Board,’ she said. ‘People who want to politicize the work of the Board should be reminded that politicians of the different parties including Members of Parliaments and Councilors participate in our community outreach events.

By: Joseph Dumbuya     

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Legal Aid partners adopt Bye-Laws for Citizens Advisory Bureau

Members of the Citizens Advisory Bureau Working Committee have adopted the Bye-Laws for the soon-to-established Citizens Advisory Bureau (CAB) at a meeting at the AFRICELL Office on Bathurst Street in Freetown on Tuesday. The Committee was put together at a stakeholders’ workshop on June 9 at the Atlantic Hall of the National Stadium Hostels to educate and discuss ideas about the Bureau which will offer Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Referral services in the community.  The meeting was convened under the auspices of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board. It attracted twelve Tribal Headmen from the Western Area, Councilors from the Western Area Urban and Rural District Councils and representatives of the Sierra Leone Police, the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, National Youth Commission and civil society groups. The Consultant for the meeting, Madam Memunata Pratt from the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Fourah Bay College led the discussions on t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Introduction to the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board

Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board  Introduction Access to a well-funded legal aid scheme is key to the attainment of justice for the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged, though in some circumstances other categories of highly placed persons or professional may require it. Globally many countries around the world have invested in programs and interventions on providing free legal aid services to its citizens. The UN member states have thus accepted that legal aid schemes must not only be optional but should be a key component of national legal justice systems. The UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna adopted a resolution on "access to legal aid in criminal justice systems". The resolution adopts a set of "Principles and Guidelines" designed to ensure that access to legal information, advice and assistance is available to all through the provision of legal aid—thus realizing rights for the poor and marginalized and entrenching one ...
1 comment
Read more

LEGAL AID BOARD

Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone Legal aid is a pivotal element of a fair, humane and efficient criminal justice system that is based on the rule of law. International law and standards are crystal clear on the fact that states should ensure a comprehensive legal aid system that is accessible, effective, sustainable, and credible so that justice can be accessible to all. Sierra Leone is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which provides for the right to fair trial and legal aid in Article 14(3) (d). The Sierra Leone Constitution also provides for this right in Sections 23 and 25.  Sierra Leone passed the Legal Aid Act in May 2012, thus establishing the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board (LAB) which is an independent organ with an objective of providing legal aid nationwide. The Board’s core functions include the provision of legal information and education, provision of legal advice and legal representation in the court of law. Its functions further inc...
Post a Comment
Read more