Rights Commission, says David Wilson, the Commission's acting executive director.

Mr. Wilson contacted The Royal Gazette with that message saying that a disclaimer at the end of a recent column in this paper may have inadvertently given the opposite impression.

Legally Speaking , a column by lawyer Jai Pachai, which covers a number of legal issues, includes a disclaimer in italics saying it should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice. The disclaimer also advises that persons intending to proceed with matters discussed in the column should consult a lawyer first.

Monday's edition of Legally Speaking focused on the Human Rights Act and the functioning of the Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Wilson told The Royal Gazette that he had already received a call from one member of the public questioning whether he needed a lawyer to come to the Commission.

"Persons are free and have been free to come here at no cost,'' Mr. Wilson said. "The Human Rights Commission is a creature of Parliament and since 1981 the institution has been here to protect the rights of people.'' He said that the paper's disclaimer at the end of an article on the Human Rights Commission "tends to suggest that persons who have experienced breaches of their human rights'' need to engage a lawyer before taking their case to the Human Rights Commission.