The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma yesterday launched the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board at the Miata Conference Hall Youyi building in Freetown.
In his key note address, the President said one of his commitments during his campaign was to uphold the rights of every citizen as the constitution guarantees that every accused has a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent court.
He stated that this commitment imposes a lot of responsibility on the government in order to ensure that the processes of the court are quick, which is why they have worked on the improvement of the judiciary and the correctional centre.
He however said that whilst that is in progress, one major issue is the cost of legal representation in as much as the circumstances of the ordinary man to afford the service of legal representation are almost impossible. He declared that as a committed government which wants to add to the dignity of the ordinary man, they have started taking steps to address these challenges.
He further called on all citizens not to take advantage of the services of the Legal Aid Board by abstaining from trouble being that the board will only support those who fall within the law.
In her presentation, the Director of the Board, Mrs Fatmata Clair Hanciles said the board which is an independent, non-profit making organisation is mandated to provide, administer, coordinate and monitor the provision of Legal Aid in civil and criminal matters.
She commended the Inspector General of Police, Francis Munu as they have been supporting the rehabilitation of those released from the correctional centre. The correctional centre and the Bar Association, she added, have been effective partners in this drive.
Highlighting some of the achievements of the Board, Mrs Hanciles informed that the Board has been organising training for legal practitioners in order to prepare them for representing accused in court. She continued that the board is also in the process of decongesting the prison.
She called on the attention of the President that since May this year eighty eight inmates have been secured from the prison out of which seventy eight were represented by the board.
Some of the challenges she mentioned are the lack of adequate resources, managing expectations and ensuring adequate lawyers and paralegals.
She called on all to continue to respect the right of others.
By Edna Smalle
Friday November 20, 2015
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