LEGAL Aid Commission would continue to expand its services to ensure every Fijian has access to free legal services, says Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
While closing the Legal Aid Commission Annual National Corporate Staff Workshop at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa yesterday, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum explained the need for accessible legal services across the country.
“We have the largest network of services across Fiji,” he said.
“This of course means we have a lot of challenges and a number of opportunities to be able to provide the types of services that no other law firm provides in Fiji.
“There was an excess of $5 million that was allocated to the Legal Aid Commission so that you would be able to carry out these services.
“Primarily the reason why the Legal Aid Commission is set up across the country is so that we could provide legal services, legal advice, legal options they would otherwise not have because they do not necessarily have the right resources.
“So what we have done over the past several years is we have opened up the Legal Aid Commission to as many Fijians as possible.”
Meanwhile, commission director Shahin Ali confirmed there were two more Legal Aid offices that would open this year.
He said the five projects that the commission undertook in the current financial year were half way complete.
“Out of the five, Kadavu, Rotuma, Seaqaqa, Vunidawa and Keiyasi, we are happy to announce that Seaqaqa and Keiyasi are ready to open,” he said.
