The Legal Aid Commission is paying almost $1 million a year in rent for 15 of its offices around Fiji, while the Commission does not own any buildings of its own.
Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga revealed in a written parliamentary response that the Commission currently operates 26 offices, of which 15 are on leased premises and 11 are non-rented.
“The Legal Aid Commission currently operates 15 offices from leased premises and pays a monthly rental of $81,556.92 VIP and annual rental of $979,103.04 VIP,” Mr Turaga said.
The biggest rental expense is for the Commission’s headquarters at 73 Gordon Street in Suva, where it pays $34,239.13 a month, or $410,869.56 annually.
Its Family Unit at 16 Kimberly Street in Suva costs $118,800 annually, while the Valelevu Complex office in Nasinu costs $100,488.84 a year.
Other annual rental costs include $66,750 for the Nausori office, $63,580.68 for the Lautoka Civil Unit and $52,899.60 for its Nadi office.
Mr Turaga said the Commission’s 26 offices comprise 21 operational offices, one storage facility and four visiting or supplementary offices.
The Central and Eastern Division accounts for nine offices, while there are 10 in the Western Division, five in the Northern Division and two maritime offices.
Mr Turaga also confirmed that despite its nationwide presence, the Legal Aid Commission does not own any buildings registered as its property.
“The Legal Aid Commission currently does not own any building as property under its name,” he said.
However, two Government-owned buildings have been allocated to the Commission.
Mr Turaga said the Loftus Building in Suva was allocated to Legal Aid in 2011, while the Old Labasa Court House was allocated to the Commission in June 2014.
The information was provided in response to a written question from MP Jone Usamate, who asked for details of the Commission’s offices, leased premises and property ownership.
