A state-funded Legal Aid Clinic was yesterday launched in Essequibo at the Anna Regina Regional Democratic Council office.
In his feature address, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, Ashton Chase SC said that legal assistance will be available for both civil and criminal matters. He emphasized that investigations will be carried out to ensure that persons who apply, actually qualify for the assistance. Chase told the gathering that the fight for Guyana to provide legal aid in all its regions has been ongoing for quite a while and that he hopes this venture is the first of others to come.
He related that the first legal aid clinic in Georgetown closed its doors due to the lack of money when the former government did not approve of the clinic receiving funds from the USAID. However when the present Government gained power in 1992 the clinic reopened its doors and was once again funded by USAID. That funding has however come to an end and Government has allocated $32 million to fund legal aid clinics across the country. Chase said that he is hopeful that the legal aid clinic can be extended to children as it was done in Georgetown.
Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand said that persons who cannot afford lawyer’s fees will now be given the means by which they can exercise their constitutional rights. She said that before the end of August the clinics should be opened in six other regions.
Gem Sanford-Johnson, President of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers related that to see the clinic actually materialize is something she is very proud of since she has been a very vocal advocate for legal assistance for the lesser fortunate in society especially women who suffer abuse. Sanford–Johnson said that she remains optimistic that the clinic will be sustained.
Shanta Springer, Medical Records Supervisor at Suddie’s hospital told the Sunday Stabroek that in her job line she is privy to a lot of reports of abuse from women who come to the hospital. She explained that even though these women may want to come out of abusive relationships; they cannot afford the high lawyers’ fees to free themselves and as such may remain in the relationship. Springer said that the counselling and other services that will be made available to the victims through the legal aid clinic will be very useful to abused women.
Attorney-at-law Sunil Scarce is to head the legal aid clinic at Anna Regina.
