Rehabilitation programme to upskill inmates
Written By : Sun Fiji Newsroom. As part of the prison’s rehabilitation programme, prison inmates from professional backgrounds are now being used to pass on their skills and experience to staff at the Prisons Department.
Prisons Commissioner Ioawe Naivalurua said they helped his staff by sharing their work experience and training at no cost.
This includes former journalist and coup convict Josefa Nata who started work at his office few days ago. Mr Naivalurua said former permanent secretary for Ministry of Agriculture Peniasi Kunatuba is also now a member of his staff at the Prisons Headquarters.
Former navy commander Francis Kean who was released from prison to serve the remainder of his term extramurally now trains prison wardens at the Officer Training School in Vatuwaqa for a few weeks.
Mr Naivalurua said they are giving back to the community at no cost. “I’m just using the experience they have not only to train my staff but also to try to have a better life,” Mr Naivalurua said.
He said government has spent a lot of money on some of them as well as various organisations and they were better off to transfer their knowledge and skills on the ground.
Mr Nauvalurua said the government was not losing anything as they are working for free but for positive causes.
“It is all part and parcel of their rehabilitation – whether one likes it or not, they will back with us in society,” Mr Naivalurua said.
Mr Naivalurua said they would know if the rehabilitation programme was effective during the Christmas service at the end of the year. He said he hopes to see that a family member be present beside each prisoner on that day – that will indicate a positive sign of what they trying to achieve.
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