Centre
for Legal Support, a network of public interest lawyers’ civil society
organisation that was established in 2018 as a non-government legal entity to
provide pro bono legal services to the public, last Saturday offered pro bono
legal assistance to inmates at the Mile II Central Prison and Jeshwang Wing.
Speaking
at the Mile II Central prison, chairman Sheriff Kumba Jobe said they understand
and feel the plights and difficulties inmates are facing; and with the advent
of the new political dispensation, they are committed to contribute their quota
in responding to their legal needs.
A
legal practitioner, Mr Jobe said it was the concern he has for the plight of
the people that motivated them as lawyers to come together to add value to the
lives and rights of every Gambian, particularly the underserved and people with
limited means such as women, children and youth.
Lawyer
Jobe pointed out that their present at Mile II is a clear manifestation that
the Gambia has changed for better because few years back this was not possible
at all, noting that thus, as citizens we must demand greater respect for our
fundamental human rights and freedom and unless we insist on our rights and
livelihood, our democratic gains would be meaningless.
CLS
provides pro bono legal assistance and representation to underserved persons
with limited means who are charged with criminal offences, victims of human
rights violations in cases before the national courts; initiates and undertakes
public interest litigation on human rights and constitutional matters before
the High and Supreme Courts of The Gambia and engage in capacity building
workshops and community awareness creation with the prime objectives to
encourage citizens’ participation in the democratisation process, public
debates on national issues, freedom of expression and divergence while pushing
the human rights and good governance agenda forward.
Deputising
the Director General of Gambia Prison Service, Superintendent Modou Lamin
Ceesay thanked CLS for the initiative in engaging them in the Transitional
Justice process of the country.
He
highlighted that their role in the transformation processes of the country is
critical as there cannot be any meaningful transitional justice without the
involvement of the prison, which is a vital player in the legal system.
