The Bo branch of the Legal Aid Board has been launched amongst thunderous applause at the Coronation Fields, Bo town.
The Bo
branch of the Legal Aid Board has been launched amongst thunderous applause at
the Coronation Fields, Bo town.
Thousands of
school children, women’ and men’s groups, and traditional dancers marched
through the streets of Bo town, to welcome legal aid into Bo, Kakua.
Chairman for
the occasion, Executive Director RADA Sierra Leone, Mr Augustine Robinson said
that Saturday 8th October was a very important day to the people of
Bo. It was the day that Justice knocked at the doors of the people of Bo
District, and the due process of the rights of individuals becomes effective in
their lives, in the history of Kakua.
Updating
guests on the activities of the Bo branch of the Legal Aid Board, the Residents
Defence Counsels, Bo District, Mamakoh Betty Kallon and Mohamed Bawoh, gave a
rundown of both discharged and ongoing matters in the courts in Bo. The ongoing
matters, the Lawyers said, ranges from Simple Larceny to Sexual offences. They
revealed that they cover areas such as Moyamba, Gbamgbatok, Rotifunk, Tiama,
Mattru Jong, Bonthe Island, Pujehun, and Sulima.
In her
overview, the Executive Director, Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone said that people
who earn at and below the Government threshold of Le500, are entitled to Legal
Aid. She informed the people of Bo that the Board dealt with matters such as
marital issues, children, youth and family matters, and that Legal Aid was there
to give justice to the people. She advised the people to uphold the law and
avoid coming into conflict with the law as the jails are already full. She
revealed that as a result of the war which was perpetrated as a result of
injustice, His Excellency the President, President Ernest Koroma, instituted
legal aid to alleviate the sufferings of his people. People who cannot afford
to pay for legal representation will be afforded one, she pointed said. She
called on the men of to care for their families, and to also support children
born out of wedlock. She called on the women to stop nagging at their husbands,
and land Lord and tenants to respect each other. “Legal Aid has come to the
south to stay, to promote the rule of law,” Mrs Carlton Hanciles emphasised.
She called on the people to respect the police and warned against the
perpetration of injustices such as sexual offences, which she warned, “The
Legal Aid Board will not take lightly.” She
then advised children to take their school work seriously, avoid clique groups
and become professional in the future to promote the state. The message ended
amongst thunderous applause.
Launching
the BO Branch of the Legal Aid Board, the Attorney General and Minister of
Justice, Mr Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara said that it was his duty to give justice
to the people of Sierra Leone. He gave a scenario in the Bible where Jesus
Christ defended a lady who was about to be stoned to death. He said that Jesus
told the people that the person without sin should throw the first stone but
the people who wanted to stone the woman walked away leaving the woman
standing. That he said, was legal aid. “Justice is for everyone and everyone is
equal before the law”, the Attorney General revealed. He expressed government’s
determination to have women enjoy their rights, including their right to
property. In the area of penalties he said that penalties should be uniform,
regardless of jurisdiction. He also spoke about progress that have been made in
the review of the constitutional. The Attorney General finally told the people
of Bo and the surrounding towns that Government delivers on their promises and
sighted the opening of courts throughout the country, the deployment of
Magistrates and Judges, and the institution of Legal Aid throughout the country
for everyone, regardless of nationality, race creed or colour. He then launched
the Bo Branch of the Legal Aid Board, also amongst thunderous applause. 
Other
speakers included Jeremy Ben Simbo of Civil Society, Ibrahim Bah of the Drivers
Union, President of the newly formed Traders Council Pa Bureh Kamara, Paramount
Chief Kamgbai of Selehga Chiefdom, Host Member of Parliament Swalio Koroma of
Constituency 067, The Deputy Mayor of Bo, the LUC South, AIG Mustapha Kamara
and the Senior District Officer South, Prince Soriba representing the Resident
Minister, who told the people that if Legal Aid is to survive as a scheme, the
people have to play the leading role.
By Derek
Nat-George
Head of
Media and Public Relations
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