THREE academics have recommended that a business arm of the prison service be created, which could help fund any activities within prison walls.

The corporatisation proposal was made public yesterday at the launch of the Fiji Prison Reforms: From Containment to Correction and Beyond –– a research publication conducted by Professor Vijay Naidu, Dr Steven Ratuva and Dr Mahendra Reddy.

This as the University of the South Pacific academics agreed that there was no doubt Fiji's prison service had the ability to fund its own activities from within the cell block.

Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy economic and social justice co-ordinator Father Kevin Barr said the report was conducted as part of the ECREA's economic justice sector program. He said it was to form the basis of dialogue with the Government and the prison service on the issue of prison reform.

The report noted that some 80 per cent of convicted prisoners did agricultural work, around 10 per cent cooked and cleaned and the remaining 10 per cent were involved in manufacturing and the maintenance of prison buildings.

It said although agricultural production provided a a significant source of food for prisoners, there were no estimate of the value of those products.

While the Fiji Prison Services' 2002 annual report did not have any value for the raw materials used in the production process, the report had estimated the cost of items produced in prison to be around $150,000. The items were from the tailor shop, tinsmith, joinery and bakery.

Commissioner of Prisons Ioane Naivalurua said there was huge potential for the setting up of a business entity within the prison system. "This is just a recommendation and I will now have to go back to the Government and present these findings to them," he said.

He said the emphasis on rehabilitation of inmates was the main focus, which was in line with the Yellow Ribbon Programme.

Mr Naivalurua acknowledged there were a lot of challenges. He said the Fiji Prisons would look at a more sustainable model.

Professor Vijay Naidu said the prison service could be used to rake in money for the Government but the bulk of it should be used by Prisons service.

The research was commissioned by ECREA and funded by Caritas Australia.

Chief guest at the launch was High Court judge Justice Nazhat Shameem.

Source: Fiji Times