Archbishop Petero Mataca had a rare glimpse of life behind bars when he was conducted on a tour of the Naboro Prisons complex by the Commissioner of Prisons Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua. The head of the Catholic Church in Fiji urged inmates in Naboro who were mostly indigenous Fijians to learn more about their cultural identity and traditional protocols.

It was a rare occasion at the Maximum Security Prison when inmates from three Naboro institutions were assembled there to traditional welcome the Archbishop with a traditional Fijian ceremony.

The inmates were from the Medium, Pre-Release and the Maximum Security Prisons.

It was the first time that any head of the Catholic Church made an official visit to the prisons. This followed a visi of the President of the Methodist Church, Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca and other church elders in July.

Archbishop Mataca and his delegation were first briefed at the Prisons Headquarters, Civic House on the various new initiatives being undertaken by the FPCS, including the Yellow Ribbon Project. 

Brigadier Naivalurua says that church leaders and key people being invited to visit the prison will become the messengers of what the Department is trying to do. Archbishop Mataca was treated to a lunch prepared by the female inmates after being taken on a tour of the Women’s Prison.

It is hope that more church leaders will be visiting the prisons in the near future as the effort to engage key stakeholders continue.