Protesters target Manickchand
With the establishment of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic (GLAC) at Fort Wellington, West Berbice vulnerable persons in Region Five will now have access to free legal services and be able to enjoy their rights in the courts.
At a small ceremony held in the compound of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Minister of Human Services and Social Services, Priya Manickchand told the gathering that the clinic is one of the manifestations of the government taking services closer to the people. She said that those who stand to benefit among the vulnerable persons are the poor, the old and children.
Ironically while the ceremony was in progress a small group of mostly women and children who said they represented the poor stood outside the compound picketing the minister.
They were displaying placards some of which read, “Priya you betray the single parents,” “No money, no Carifesta,” “Priya fulfill your promises or go,” “Priya mothers are starving” and “Stop pretending Priya – Life is hard.”
According to the minister, “We don’t want to see our children out of school; we don’t want to see our children holding placards in their hands… we want to see our children cared for and protected.”
She mentioned too that two thirds of the people who are benefiting from public assistance are children and said that it would be increased by 63% this year and that pensions have been raised by 82%.
The clinic which is located in a section of the bottom flat of the RDC office would be run by a young lawyer, Yogini Lochan. She would be present at the office three days per week and will also serve at all the courts in the region, the minister said.
Referring to the clinic which was launched in Region 2 earlier this month, Manickchand said that 44 persons have already benefited from the service. She said out of those persons eight got advice and two were disqualified because they were thought to have sufficient means.
She added that 11 matters would be instituted in the magistrate’s court, 21 in the high court and four would be dealt with at both courts.
She pointed out that these persons would never have been able to have “legal services, access the court or enjoy their rights” if the government had not provided the funding for the expansion of legal aid services across Guyana.
She said that by the end of August legal aid clinics would be launched in Region 6 and Region 10.
Teni Housty, President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) reiterated that the legal aid clinic is one of the critical tools to promote access to justice. He noted that one of the fundamental flaws in the justice system in serving a community is the lack of access to justice.
He urged persons to think of the clinic as a source of information and as an alternative for resolving their disputes. He said that the clinic would assist in several areas including domestic violence and human rights. It would also help persons to gain individual strength and autonomy, he said.
Further, Housty said that the GBA would work with the clinic as a strategic partner, acknowledging that everything cannot be done by one dedicated lawyer. He pledged the support of the lawyers of the GBA.
In her address, Josephine Whitehead of the GLAC said that the sole purpose of the clinic is to provide free or subsidized service to persons and that all complaints of the exploitation of the service would be investigated.
Renai Mc Almont, assistant overseer of the Union/Naarstigheid Neighbourhood Democratic Council remarked that the clinic is a “dream come true for women who are battered from time to time or unjustly treated and are unable to afford legal fees.”
The feature address was delivered by Speaker of the National Assembly and former director of the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic, Ralph Ramkarran. Also giving brief remarks were Chairman of Region 5, Harrinarine Baldeo and Gem Sanford-Johnson, President of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers. (Shabna Ullah)
Captions:
1. Minister of Human Services & Social Security, Priya Manickchand addressing the gathering. Seated in the front row at left is attorney-at-law, Yogini Lochan (behind plant).
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