Legal Aid Reaches out in the North
Issues such as leases, eviction, boundaries and surveying, lease renewals related concerns have been brought to our attention where we have been able to give legal advice and opinions.
We don’t tell you what you want to hear, but rather
Shahin Ali we will tell you things exactly as they are. Acting Director,
Legal Aid Commission
Legal Aid Commission’s (LAC) roadshows and awareness programmes are intended to educate members of the public.
This was the statement made by the Commission’s acting director and business operations manager Shahin Ali after two roadshows were conducted in the Northern Division this week.
On Friday the roadshow was near the market in Savusavu and yesterday at the Labasa LAC premises.
“We started our roadshows in
2018,” Mr Ali said.
“This is the third year of such an initiative of taking our services to the communities.
“Our roadshows are held throughout the year depending on our availability and weather permitting.
These roadshows are an on-going activity and we take full ownership of it.”
“We wanted to begin 2020 with roadshows starting in the Northern Division, in particular Savusavu and Labasa,” he said. “Usually one would hear that the North is overlooked, so we wanted to ensure that we commenced with our roadshows in 2020 by focusing on the Northern Division first and foremost.
The Northern Division is certainly not being overlooked especially when it comes to access justice and legal aid services.
The very fact that we have five branches (Labasa, Seaqaqa, Savusavu,
Bua and Taveuni) in the North demonstrates our commitment to bringing our services to the people of the North.
It also demonstrates the Government’s commitment to adequately fund the LAC to be able to provide such services to the people of the North.”
2019 – top issues in the North
Mr Ali said they found that there are a lot of land related issues in the North, especially Labasa, Seaqaqa and Dreketi areas.
“Then there are family law related matters such as maintenance, residence and access, and so on.” “Land has always played a significant part in our society and it is something that we all hold very dear,” he said.
“People also identify themselves with the land, whether they are landlords or tenants.
Generations of families have perhaps lived on a piece of land and for them to be asked to vacate does not only affect them economically and socially, but there is this sentimental attachment to the land that they do not want to part with.”
“Then you have disputes between family members living on the same land which they have been living on for years,” he said. “Sadly we have to deal with matters where family members are fighting over land or house. When a person does not leave behind a Will, then a Letter of Administration Grant is issued.
But what we sometimes have to deal with is the issue of a family member forcing another to renounce their shares in favour of them.
Meaning that one family member who is a beneficiary under the law is being forced by another beneficiary to give his or her share of the estate to another just so that they could have more land.”
“We even have people who no longer reside in Fiji and have been away for decades whilst another family member was looking after and cultivating the land, still wanting to assert their rights over land in Fiji on which they have not made any improvements and or lease payments,” he said.
“Or in some cases, persons living overseas would make promises to the person looking after their land here in Fiji that they will transfer the land if they look after it, but after decades, that promise never eventuates and this poor person who has been looking after the land is being forced off the property.
“These are very pertinent issues in the North, which sometimes are complicated and difficult to deal with.
“It’s not only about the law, but you also have to deal with people and their emotions.
“And it is not easy when a person who has lived on a land for 30 to 40 years is one day told to leave. Where does he take his family?”
Commission’s plan
“Our role is to educate such people to have any agreements in writing as opposed to verbal agreements,” he said.
“Gone are the days when we could trust someone on their word.
“All dealings in land must be in writing to begin with.
“We are certainly looking at expanding our services and staffing numbers.
“There is still a huge demand in the North for our services.
“There is still a lot that the Commission needs to do to reach the communities and educate them. “Maritime islands are also on our plan of expansion and services.
“As part of our three year strategic plan, expansion of services is a key activity in taking our services to all Fijians.
“You will definitely see that by the end of year 2021, the Commission will have a greater footprint around the country, our staffing numbers will also increase, and with this, the frequency of ongoing capacity building trainings targeted to improve the competency levels of staff.”
Advice
“I strongly encourage the people of Labasa and the North to visit our branches and access the range of free services available on offer,” he said.
“I would also encourage people to be careful when dealing in land issues or if an offer seems too good to be true.
“Whilst we have a lot of honest and hardworking Fijians, we also have some very unscrupulous people waiting to take advantage of you.
“Visit our office and just obtain advice from our lawyers.
“We don’t tell you what you want to hear, but rather we will tell you things exactly as they are.
“We have invested money and resources into opening branches in the North for you, so please take advantage of this service.
“You may hear that legal aid lawyers are no good because they are free. That is not true.
“We have changed that perception over the years and will continue to advocate on the quality of our service delivery.
“Anyone who has any concerns or complaints, is encouraged to contact me on 9922147 or email your concerns to info@legalaid. org.fj.
“Anyone can access our online portal as well ‘get.legalaid.org.fj’.”