Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Joan Ward-Mars’ letter ‘Linden Legal Aid Centre has never received money from government,’ SN April 8. Note is specifically taken of the writer’s view that my letter ‘Vanessa Kissoon has earned her place on the list to return to parliament’ (SN, April 7) “gives the erroneous impression that the Linden Legal Aid Centre is funded by the government.” Given that this is the interpretation arrived at, let me seek to clarify by stating this:-money for the Linden Legal Aid Centre was allocated in the 2014 National Budget.
In addition to Region 10 MP Vanessa Kissoon achieving this bugetary allocation for her Region, she also proposed to the subject minister and other stakeholders that while the centre was destroyed by fire, the unoccupied Christianburg Health Centre could be used in the meanwhile to house the centre. Ms Kissoon also secured the assurance that some furnishings for the building would be provided.
In that the government grant (taxpayers’ money) to the Linden Legal Aid Centre, though allocated, has not been released because the centre has no physical space, the community of Linden has a friend in Ms Kissoon to make real, needed low-cost legal service to her constituents.
Yours faithfully,
Minette Bacchus
