Pre- Release Inmates decorate the land mass of Naboro by toiling land to produce much revenue for Government.

Visiting the hot spot of where Pre- release Inmates operate opens the corridor to how much land and ideas that could generate much income for individuals and government institutions.
Staff Officer Rehabilitation for Fiji Prison Correctional Services – ASP Viliame Bulewa stated that come December there were plans to expand farming land.

“It is the plan of the Commissioner of Prisons to expand these vegetable gardens and other initiatives introduced as commercial projects. You will see that while that is his focus we are here to carry out that into operational mode. This is done fairly well by our field officers although there are some rooms for improvement because of how we’d like to sustain our produce in looking at facilitating the general market at large in a couple of years from now. We are on the right track’.      

In an interview given to Correctional Services PRO, an inmate in charge of the Naboro piggery – former Military Officer- Shane Stevens-  stated there was a need to sustain the sale of animals particularly pigs and increase the number of sows in Naboro piggery. The piggery which has raked in revenue over $28,000 in the last three months with just 14 pens to cater for sows will have an additional 10 pens. This means that sales are expected to increase within the next couple of months.

The pen site which is located 1 and a half kilometers from the main drill square in Naboro can have anyone fooled as a getaway approaching a Bag packers lodge. The area decorated with flowers and neat gardens hold a small building with a very simple office. This office is manned by Stevens and an additional two who are all very skilled in who forecasting and planning the potential of the piggery in two to three years.


In explaining the capability he has, the infrastructure, number of pigs and sows and systems to run an efficient and very effective piggery for a wider market, Stevens said the idea is to be unique in strategies.


“We forecast a wider market. We are now trying to include 10 more pens and that has been approved of lately. That’s really good. So we will increase sales definitely in the near future. Currently we are trying to minimize the costs in buying food for animals by making our own. Resources are there so we will be exploring these avenues to better our Fiji Prisons Correctional Services piggery and make it Fiji’s best.’


In addition he said the idea was to keep maintaining the high standard and if possible move it to another level each time. 


“It’s all about maintenance. We clean this place every day. We maintain a high standard daily and keep close watch over our animals. We separate them when it’s time and make the necessary adjustments to pens for the allocations of pigs when deemed necessary. It is a process. It’s enjoyable. There is only three of us but the numbers don’t matter- the attitude to our work is important. So it’s fulfilling for us personally in the afternoon as we realise we’ve done a great days work. The satisfaction carries us through and through when we lock up the place and trot back to our institution’. 


The three mates walk a little close to 1km to join the others in their institution.      


 
Cleanliness is maintained daily at the Naboro piggery by inmates and officers.