The COMPRI Brigadier Ioane Naivalurua is flanked  by the FPSC Director Education Training & Rehabilitation Mr. Peniasi
Kunatuba after receiving a $1000 cheque from the President FAOCA Mr. Jeremaia Misiki and their treasurer Mr. Atama
Matauloki.

The old adage ‘action speaks louder than voices’ rang true, this morning (Tuesday November 17) when the Fiji Archipelagic Off-loaders Co-operative Association (FAOCA) donated $1000 to the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP).

Receiving the donation from the FAOCA President Mr Jeremaia Misiki and Treasurer Mr Atama Mataloki, the Commissioner FPCS Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua said that FAOCA was the first Fijian Association to come forward and pledge their support to the YRP initiative.

“This is the first Fijian Association to come forth and pledge their support to the Yellow Ribbon Project.

“I am happy to receive this kind donation on behalf of the Yellow Ribbon Project and the inmates, this donation will go towards the development and growth of the inmates.”

The Commissioner told the two representatives from FAOCA that recently he was asked if the FPCS had a huge YRP fund like the Malaysian jurisdiction and people where surprised when his answer was no.

“I told them that while we had tremendous in-roads with our Yellow Ribbon Project we did not beg for one penny or cent, but we only asked for peoples’ good heart, once you have their good heart then the money will come.”

While presenting the cheque to the Commissioner, Mr Jeremaia Misiki said that they had heard about the good work of the YRP through the media and it was unanimously decided at their recent AGM to donate to this worthy course.

“We believe that our association has been very fortunate since the Prime Minister approved our cooperative licence, last year.

“It was decided that we use our good fortune for the good of others.”

FAOCA Treasurer Mr Atama Mataloki said that the decision to donate towards the YRP was a collective one as most of the members had similar backgrounds.

“The AGM was in agreement that we donate to the Yellow Ribbon Project because most of us in the association come from similar backgrounds and are ex-offenders.

“We agreed that something new is happening in Fiji and we believe that the Fiji Prisons is heading in the right direction.

“We were given a chance by the Prime Minister when he approved our licence and now we want to give a chance to our brothers and sisters inside.

“We will be making a donation every year,” the former boxing champion said.




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