Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has encouraged young people in need of legal services to take full advantage of Legal Aid Commission offices in the country.

Mr Bainimarama encouraged the youths while opening the new Legal Aid Commission office at Keiyasi, Navosa, yesterday.

“I also want to make it clear that juveniles can utilise the services offered at Legal Aid offices in Fiji free of charge,” he said.

“As a young person, your socio-economic background will not be considered, neither will the socio-economic status of your family.

“These doors are always open to you and I encourage young people in need of legal services to take full advantage.”

Mr Bainimarama said this week was a historical one for the Legal Aid Commission.

He will open a Legal Aid office in Seaqaqa today and the first one for Taveuni tomorrow.

“Rotuma, Kadavu and Vunidawa will soon be welcoming new Legal Aid offices of their own and once we finish work on the office in Levuka, we’ll have 22 branches of the commission throughout Fiji,” he said.

“These milestone achievements in expanding access to justice are being made possible by an unprecedented spending commitment from my Government towards the expansion of legal aid, including the $10.4 million allocated in this financial year.

“On a per capita basis, our financial commitment towards the expansion of legal aid services ranks Fiji as a world leader in funding access to justice.

“We’re seeing the returns of that world-leading effort.”

Civil servants and members of the public at the opening of the Legal Aid Commission office at Keiyasi, Navosa, on March 11, 2019. Photo: Deptfo News

Mr Bainimarama said thanks to the Fijian Constitution, there was no favour granted to anyone in the country’s courts on the basis of their background, their wealth or their social status.

“The law views each of us equally,” he said.

“That sacred truth forms the very basis of our common and equal citizenry and our shared identity, as one nation and one people.

“For that reason, we cannot tolerate financial limitations on access to justice. We cannot tolerate marginalisation in our justice system.

“If any Fijian needs representation, they must be able to get it.”

Mr Bainimarama also opened a new Birth, Deaths and Marriages registry at Keiyasi, which will bring another range of important services direct to the community.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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