The Acting Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Hon. Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke has officially opened the newly built ultramodern High and Magistrate’s Courts building in Kailahun district, in Eastern Province of the country.
The project, which was funded by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Works and Public Assets with support from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is aimed at increasing access to justice to citizens across the country.
In his statement, the Acting Chief Justice said he was pleased to not only officially open the building, but to witness such an historic event in a District which years back, did not have a resident magistrate or a judge.
He said the building is the second in the country that will be hosting a Sexual Offences Model Court with advance witness protection facilities to protect the identity of witnesses more especially child witnesses.
The building hosts two courtrooms: one Magistrate and the other the High Court with exhibits room, holding cells for male, female, Juvenile accused persons, offices for Bailiffs and Court Registrars/Clerks and an office space for the National Revenue Authority.
The Acting Chief Justice admonished the residents in the District to take care of the structure and to ensure that it is used for the intended purpose. “This court is yours and I encourage you to hold it with care,” the C.J beseeched them.
Speaking as Chairman on behalf of the Council of Paramount Chiefs in Kailahun district, PC Mohamed Kailondo II expressed his heartfelt appreciation to both the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for bringing justice to his people. He described the building as a one-stop shop. He said that residents in Kailahun used to attend court sittings in Kenema where they as well paid their NRA fees.
“In the past, Justice was not accessible and affordable to us and it wasn’t meant for the poor. There were many hindrances including transportation cost and many others.” PC Kailondo revealed.
He informed the Acting Chief Justice that crime has been on the increase in the township due to the geographical location of Kailahun which he said shares boarders with the Republic of Liberia and Guinea, a route through which illegal substances have made their way into the country. Commenting on the relevance of the Sexual Offences Court in the District, the Paramount Chief disclosed that sexual offences has been on the increase in the district which was worrisome to responsible parents.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay said the building is not only making justice accessible and affordable to the people which he said is reflective of the President’s vision for the justice sector, but also a pointer to infrastructural development in the township.
“What I have seen here today is fascinating and our government is determined to replica same in other districts,” he assured.
He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Hon. Acting Chief Justice and team, the leadership of UNDP and the Ministry of Works and Public Assets for making such a unique provision for effective trial for sexual offences cases.
He used the occasion to implore all present to ensure that they advise their kids, especially the adult male children to stay away from not only sexually related offences, but crimes generally.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony that climaxed the official opening of the court was done by the Hon. Acting Chief Justice and the Paramount Chief.
