The Restorative Workshop is one of the first workshops where a High Court Judge had participated.

Held at the Korovou Prisons, the one day Workshop was officially inaugurated by the High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar.

Justice Goundar focused on three philosophical propositions that are recognized by Restorative Justice. These are:

1. Crime injures individuals and the community.
2. The criminal justice system should help repair those injuries and thirdly,
3. A response to crime should involve victims, offenders and their communities.

The High Court Judge had further emphasized that for Fiji, the application of Restorative Justice in the criminal justice system will be a new initiative.

In applying Restorative Justice in sentencing, the challenge for the Courts would be to strike the right balance between the principles of restoration of the offender and the victim and the public inters in deterrence.

“The integration of restorative justice by legislative reform will not result in a new criminal justice system”, he said.

Mr Goundar in his conclusion said integration will improve the current system or different members of society, including victims and offenders so that restorative justice can fulfil its potential as an alternative way to deal with the effects of crime.

Sharila Lazarus
Information Officer
Attorney-General’s Chambers


Fiji's Judiciary is still Independent
No Minister or any member of the Interim Government has ever interfered in my work though I have made decisions against the State.

These were the remarks made by High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday on the issue of Fiji’s judiciary being independent.

Justice Goundar reiterated that the judiciary of Fiji is very independent and he personally has never come across any such instance where the independence of the judiciary is compromised.

The High Court Judge has welcomed constructive criticism from the media or members of the public.

“We need open justice and transparency in our judicial system”, he said.

Justice Goundar added that when criticisms are made, it should be constructive criticism based on specific conduct of judiciary rather than attacking in a very open unconstructive manner.

He said it is vital to highlight which particular area or individual of the judiciary is to be criticised rather than making unconstructive criticisms of the entire judiciary in Fiji.

Justice Goundar also focused on the accessibility of judgements to members of the media and the public without involving any legal costs.

Sharila Lazarus
Information Officer
Attorney-General’s Chambers