Ministry to strengthen relations with Fiji Correctional Services
Suva, June 11 – The Ministry of Youth and Sports will strengthen its newly established partnership with the Fiji Correctional Services and provide targeted interventions for young offenders.
“The Youth and Sports Ministry is aware that most offenders in our correctional facilities around Fiji are youths,” said the Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports Ms Alison Burchell.
“Our partnership in providing training to these young offenders is to supplement the FCS rehabilitation efforts and help provide these youths fresh and better opportunities,” said Ms Burchell.
“The Seeds of Success training held last week at the Nasinu Corrections Centre is just the beginning of this partnership and the Ministry is willing to support further requests from the FCS”
“Our mandate is to provide and harness youth development in urban, rural areas and especially focused on youths at risk and help them adjust their attitudes and values,” said Ms Burchell.
“We continue to assist the PYGMIES Club in Lautoka, the Raiwai Youth Association and these are known groups which have ventured into risky behaviour, including a new project promoting the Duke of Edinburgh International Award” said the Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports.
She added that the Ministry is taking a step further and “taking such empowerment training to youths inside correctional facilities so they can become better citizens after completing their rehabilitation term.”
While closing the Seeds of Success training last Friday at the Nasinu Corrections, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, Mr Josefa Kulinidio, told the trainees; “This is your temporary home and you will someday return to being a regular member of the public.”
“We envisage that you respond to the training and strive to become better citizens when you return home,” said Mr Kulinidio. “You have roles to play in your community and this training is to empower you to become better persons and contribute positively to your communities.”
Aborosio Biligi spent the past five years in Nasinu Corrections and is six months away from being released.
“I wish this training came a bit earlier and I am grateful to the Fiji Corrections Service and the Ministry for providing us this training,” said Biligi.
“Each one of us has vowed to support each other inside this facility and also look out for each other when we get out of here and support each other’s development and progress,” said Biligi. “The training has really taught us valuable lessons that there is more to life than turning to crime.”
The Ministry also handed over some basic sports equipment to the young offender last Friday.