Mary Francis, long-time activist and Director of the National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights Inc. is calling on the Saint Lucia government to take more robust action in improving access to justice for economically disadvantaged citizens.
According to Francis, the current focus—such as appointing more magistrates, expanding the police force, and constructing a new courthouse—is insufficient. “It’s not just about more magistrates or a new courthouse,” she told the St. Lucia Times. “…Having a new court building is not going to help the situation unless there is greater access to legal aid by the indigent people in Saint Lucia.”
The outspoken attorney at law has consistently advocated for accessible legal services, underscoring the role of legal aid in social equity. “I think legal aid is a very important aspect of development and justice,” she said, emphasising that it “should be placed in the hierarchy of social needs, the same way that health and education are provided for by the state.”
Highlighting the scope of legal needs beyond criminal cases, Francis pointed out that civil matters also require attention. “You have housing for instance, people have been evicted in a forceful, illegal manner. Let’s look at those things!” She said.
Francis also expressed concerns over what she says is the government’s lack of commitment to legal aid, stressing that increased manpower is essential to addressing these gaps.
She asserts that the current demand for legal aid far exceeds the capacity of the current legal aid unit operating within the government.
“Justice is very expensive in the private practice and unless the state comes in to help those people, I think the whole question of the democratic principle of ‘equality before the law’ is undermined. Also, it’s a fundamental human right to have access to justice,” she stated.
Additionally, Francis proposed the establishment of a Criminal Justice Council to oversee the interactions between the courts, prisons, and police. “From the time a person is arrested, they should have a lawyer assigned to the police station,” she noted.
She also advocates for a complaints unit dedicated to handling grievances against the police, which she believes will enhance public trust in the justice system, by improving a sense of legitimacy.
Reflecting on historical injustices, Francis drew a connection between colonial and present-day legal systems. “They talk about reparations from colonial powers, but successive governments which took over from colonial powers, they have not transformed the system sufficiently,” she remarked, adding, “Under colonial rule, the law was used to dehumanise our ancestors and dehumanise us. And to me, it still does.
Really, Ms Francis! Let’s be honest here, who gets more legal assistance, the victim or the perpetrator? Whose name and picture are not divulge till whatever? Have you ever heard of a victim or the family of a victim ever being given any form of legal assistance? Has there ever been a court appointed attorney to represent a victim of crime? Aren’t most of the laws concerning participants in crime and violence skewed in favour of the perpetrators and not the victims? So on top of all this, Mary, you’re asking for more for them! My dear people, look no further as to why there’s a problem with crime in Saint Lucia, and why the homicides are increasing every year, and why the criminals feel so emboldened, and why this country is fast becoming lawless, and why the plice feel so powerless, therein lies the answer!
Some years ago I had occasion to visit ward 9 at Victoria Hospital, whilst there I overhead a conversation between a patient, who was shot by police while trying to break into the police storage yard at Vigie, and an accomplice, the patient was saying that he will “drop Mary Francis behind them”, “them” meaning the police. And over the years, that has been the common refrain of many a criminal. It is not a delusion to suggest that the criminals believe that Mary Francis is there for them, and that they feel emboldened because she has their backs! Now I don’t think that’s what Mary set out to do, but in reality this appears to be the case. It would seem that the concept of human rights lawyers in St Lucia have morphed into ‘defend criminal and perpetrators lawyers’ in all cases whether or not the court finds them guilty. Genuine human rights lawyers play an important role in the legal system of every country, and St Lucia should be no exception, but the image of those here have become tarnished as so many demands are made on behalf of the perpetrators.
@Anonymous November 11, 2024 At 11:34 am.
The prosecutor’s office represents the victim(s) interest.
My personal turnaround came a few years ago when I recognized the bs for what it is. My good friend and once neighbor died in a hail of bullets during a robbery on the job. I watched as his young family disintegrated. It was a painful experience. Hurt as hell. I had too many questions and there were few answers. What about his right to live? The rights of his children to emotional well-being? The right of his children to security? These and other questions nagged at me.
What alienated me even more, the countries pushing one-sided rights are the greatest violators themselves. Almost everyone knows their recent and old history. Their terrorists are not ours. Their rights spiel is a tool for control of smaller nations. This woman has the nerve to use foreign statistics to say that the death penalty will not work in St. Lucia. Such is the level of brainwashing. When the victims rights are addressed, then I will be interested. In the meantime, Mary can shove it.
By the way, I didn’t see her name on the last ballot. Was she elected?