Increased Access to Justice for PWDs

The Legal Aid Council (LAC) is reiterating its commitment to providing access to Justice Services for vulnerable Jamaicans, with its continued focus on persons living with disabilities (PWDs). Executive Director of the LAC, Dian Watson, says the vision of the Council is to be able to reach everyone, and this includes the disabled community.

“We have been working very hard with the combined disabilities association to assist persons living with disabilities. In December when there is disability awareness week, we’ll be partnering with them to host a Justice Fair for the disabled community,” she said.

Mrs. Watson was speaking during a recent JIS Studio 58A live discussion programme.

“PWDs are the most vulnerable, and they need our help. In that regard, we are now building capacity and getting some assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to do that,” she said.

“We have also been doing simple language training with our attorneys. We have found that some persons just cannot appreciate when attorneys speak, so we’ve been doing some simple language training to ensure that every client is heard and understood,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Watson said the Council is working to expand what it has to offer to Jamaicans.

“This includes offering civil legal aid, which we are working on right now. We would also like to assist more persons In terms of the consultations and advice that we give,” she said.

Mrs. Watson pointed out that the Council is available and wants more persons to take advantage of its offerings, which are free to the public.

“The Council also wants to be able to go into the underserved communities because there are some areas that do not have many attorneys. There are also some areas that are far up in the hills. We are using the mobile bus to go into some of those areas to help. We are taking Justice to the people,” she said.

“Led by [Justice] Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, we have been going across the island on some Alternative Justice Service Tours. We have been going around the parishes telling everyone about Legal Aid. We’ve been going to churches, schools and we’ve been having several justice fairs across the island, so people are aware of what we offer and that they can have access to these services,” she added.

The LAC offers three main services – Duty Counsel Service, Court Representation and the Mobile Justice Unit. For more information, persons can visit legalaidcouncil.moj.gov.jm.