Fiji Prisons and Corrections service
Fiji Corrections Service

The successful reintegration of offenders into the community is the best security for society.
INMATE LEARNS TRADE AT ASCO MOTORS




Peceli Veremo (first from left) and fellow inmates working on an automobile at FPCS Mechanical Workshop in Korovou
A prisoner who is serving a life sentence is now employed by Asco Motors for a year.

He is Peceli Veremo, 34, who is an inmate at the Suva Prison.

He is an automotive technician.

“My spirit was dead because for two years, I was just being told that I will get a chance to work at Asco. Nothing happened but now I am happy and want to encourage my mates also,” Mr Veremo said.

“I don’t want to spoil this opportunity because I will be going out to society where people will be watching. I want to do everything right.”

Mr Veremo has completed 10 years of his sentence.

His employment was confirmed by Asco Motors’ chief executive officer, Ian McLean.

“We were approached to be part of the Yellow Ribbon Project. It enabled us to know the prison system and understand the problems in society and this has led us to employ an inmate for one year,” Mr McLean said.

“The prisons department nominated him because he was a skilled automotive technician and we just gave him an opportunity to use that in a proper business environment,” he said.

Mr McLean said it was not easy to employ someone with a criminal record.

He said consultations and research were conducted with members of his staff on their reaction towards working with an inmate.

“It was encouraging that the staff at Asco were supportive and were willing to work with him,” he said.

The discussions and consultations took about six to nine months.

After two years of discussions and consultations, Asco Motors agreed to take in Mr Veremo as their staff,” said Fiji Prisons and Correctional Service spokesman, Fred Elbourne.

Mr Elbourne said that this was an encouraging sign and now they were talking with other corporate bodies to do the same for other inmates.

He said Mr Veremo would be picked up from prison every morning and dropped off after work.





[Source: Fiji Sun]