There is already one in Belmopan but now justice or at least legal advice will be delivered to residents in the north courtesy a legal information bureau. The bureau which is one stop clearinghouse for legal advice and information was opened in orange walk today by Attorney General Francis Fonseca. Rhondine Twist from the AG's ministry explains why there was a need for this center in the north.
Rhondine Twist, Attorney General's Ministry
"There was a need to place one in the northern part of the country. Orange Walk has the second highest poverty level in the country, there are three lawyers resident in Orange Walk and one in Corozal so that's four lawyers for the entire northern part of the country and we thought that Orange Walk was more accessible to people in Corozal than Belize City and it being the district with the second largest poverty level it was just a logical place to place it."
"People have been coming to this legal information bureau for two weeks now. We're having the official launch today the office has been opened and has been seeing many visitors. People have been coming to ask about their employment dispute, to ask about maintenance and how to get it for their children, to ask about custody problems, and problems with the police. There are many reasons why people would come into the legal information bureaus."
There are plans to open bureaus in other districts. There are no trained attorneys on staff however advice from experienced legal professionals is offered.