The new Deputy Minister of Justice, Hon. Alpha Sesay has told a cross-section of staff of the Legal Aid Board that his Ministry is developing the ‘Justice Sector Reform and Investment Strategy’ which he underlined is a bold attempt at reforming access to justice in the country.
He noted that the Strategy will build on the gains in access to justice and also contribute to the Government’s ‘Big Five Game-Changer’ namely Feed Salone; Human Capital Development; Youth Employment Scheme: Catalyst for Democracy, Economic Productivity and National Security; Enhancing Public Service Architecture: Empowering Democracy and National Development and Technology and Infrastructure Initiative. It will also help to address challenges not least those relating to resources which justice sector institutions face.
The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles had earlier told the Deputy Minister that the scheme has achieved a lot and would have done a lot more but for the lack of enough lawyers, Paralegals and vehicles.
The Deputy Minister spoke on his plan on his first visit to the Legal Aid Board head office since his appointment. The visit turned out to be a reunion of some sort as he met with former colleagues at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The Minister was taken on a conducted tour of the offices including the Programmes Department by Ms. Claire Carlton-Hanciles. He stopped over at the Rokel Commercial Bank outlet in the head office to speak with bank staff who explained the procedures in the opening of and payments into Child Maintenance Accounts. The Deputy Minister also interacted with women who had come to the Bank to collect monthly Child Maintenance money.
The Minister also seized the opportunity to observe an Inheritance Matter mediated by the Board’s ADR Panel. The two parties to the matter were a man and his step mothers. He interacted with members of the panel including the Consultant, Mr. Francis Gabiddon to have an insight into the matters mediated, determination of Monthly Child Maintenance money and enforcement of undertakings by parties.