PERMANENT Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca says 87 per cent of Fijians who face legal problems do not seek help from the formal justice system.
Speaking at the 2026 Fiji Law Society Convention during a session on alternative dispute resolution and civil procedure reform, Ms Kuruleca described the figure as “huge” and reflective of the entire population across all divisions and industries.
She attributed this widespread avoidance to court processes being perceived as too expensive, complicated and slow.
“When people are unable to use the machinery of justice, it creates cost, capacity, and uncertainty,” Ms Kuruleca said.
She said that such uncertainty “gradually discourages people from pursuing their rights.”
Ms Kuruleca then challenged legal professionals to confront this reality, asking, how could they improve processes.
She noted that case resolution times ranged from 89 days to over 20 years, describing the situation as one where “justice delayed is justice denied”.
Ms Kuruleca said the justice system should not be judged solely by how it processed cases, but by whether it made justice more accessible.
She called for a fundamental shift toward alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, stating these should not be occasional alternatives but become a norm at any step in resolving suitable disputes.
The presentation was part of a panel discussion featuring government, court administration, and international perspectives on reforming Fiji’s civil justice system.
