Thursday 18th of December, 2008, will be hard to erase the memories of the 16 former prison officers who heeded the call by the Commissioner of the Fiji Prisons and Corrections Service for a get-together reunion. While invitations were sent to all former staff of the Service, the shortness of time and the non-availability of addresses resulted in only 16 turning up.

The group was welcomed at the FPCS Headquarters by the Commissioner, Brigadier Ioane Naivalurua, who reminded these ex-officers of their continued role in the rehabilitation process, now that they were part of the community, the major stakeholders in or after care programmes. 

The main objectives of the invitation were to:
i) Maintain a networking amongst these former officers and a possible annual reunion
ii) Keep them abreast of the developments within the Service
iii) Reminding and encourage them that they are the key link to society on all developments in the Service

The group was initially briefed at HQ and then treated to a tour of Naboro Prison Complex. Tears flowed as they reminisced over their time within their service. A lunch was provided for them at the Supervisor Central /Eastern Bure at Korovou after which a discussion session was held with senior management staff of the FPCS over a bowl of yaqona. 

An interview was conducted with former Principal Prison Officer, Mr. Saiasi Buluta, who presently resides in Dreketi, Wailevu East in Cakaudrove. He had retired from the Service in 1997. He praised the high level of service he witnessed during the visit. He believes that work ethics have never been the same under the previous management he fully supports the new direction currently undertaken. Personally he had spent half of his life in the Service. 

The Service allowed for the education fir all his six children who are currently all working. In closing he gave some advice to the current batch of officers. They need to be faithful in their work; they also need to be spiritually enlightened as this was the foundation for a good family and in the transformation of inmates