Good news for the people of Korovou and Tavua as Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama opened Legal Aid Commission offices in Tailevu and Tavua earlier today.
People in Korovou are also happy as Bainimarama also opened the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office in Korovou, and this would mean that they no longer have to travel far to access these basic services.
People there will now have access to birth and death certificates, and also have marriage services.
Bainimarama says with the openings today, there are 11 branches of the Legal Aid Commission serving Fijians in Viti Levu, up only from 2 in 2007.
The Prime Minister says the legal services are free of charge and the income threshold is also flexible as he says this depends on the person’s situation.
He says more branches will open in the next couple of months.
Bainimarama says the rapid expansion of Legal Aid offices providing free legal services in Fiji is owed to the government’s unwavering commitment to justice, to equal opportunity and to equal access to services for ordinary Fijians no matter where they live in our country.
He also says that the Legal Aid Commission is the largest law firm in the country with a record budget of 8.4 million dollars provided in the current budget.
Bainimarama says over 40,000 Fijians were assisted through Legal Aid in the past year.
He also says that we are all equal in the eyes of the law and that fundamental truth forms the basis of our common and equal citizenry and our shared national identity.
