The late Justice Kishore Nand Govind always encouraged lawyers to provide legal services for free for ordinary Fijians and his law firm was known for this.
This was highlighted by the former Vice President of Ba Soccer Association, former partner with Govind and Company and life member of Fiji Law Society, Ramesh Prakash at Justice Govind’s memorial service in Ba this afternoon.
Justice Govind was Ba’s first Mayor and a Member of Parliament for the then Alliance Party led by late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara from 1972 to 1977.
Prakash says Justice Govind was an advocate for legal aid as back in the day, legal aid was not that common in the country and it came much later with the establishment of the Legal Aid Commission.
He says Justice Govind worked with many sugarcane farmers and tenants who had tenancy difficulties and was one legal practitioner that stood up and fought for tenants’ rights.
Prakash says majority of the cases that came from Justice Govind’s law firm involved ordinary Fijians.
Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum who also spoke at the memorial service highlighted Justice Govind had the ability to stand up and speak out on what happened post 14th May 1987.
Sayed-Khaiyum says this must be recognized as Fiji was then going through a difficult period.
He adds that Justice Govind was in the legal profession, participated in football, started a horse racing track, participated in Law Asia, was the Chair of the Human Rights Committee and also maintained a healthy family life.
Justice Govind passed away last Sunday and was laid to rest in Sydney this afternoon.
He has the distinction of being the only politician who has a sporting complex and park named after him which is the Govind Park in Ba.
