Public Defenders can currently be accessed only on an as-needed basis in Tobago, but according to Secretary of the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, Richard Ragoobarsingh, the LAAA is seeking to change this as part of the future of the Authority.
This was revealed during Friday’s Joint Select Committee into the accessibility and quality of legal representation provided by the State.
Director of the LAAA, Gilbert Peterson, noted that the Public Defenders’ Department is one within the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority and is still at the pilot project stage. He said due to the performance of the department he is hopeful that it can be a permanent fixture.