Inmate Merewalesi Baleiniusiladi with daughter Esther during her 1st birthday
at the Women's Correction Centre yesterday.

Inmates and staff at the Womens’ Correction Centre yesterday celebrated baby Esther Ratumaiyale’s first birthday, one of two babies at the centre.

Her mum, Merewalesi Baleiniusiladi, 34, is serving a life sentence.

The occasion was indeed a memorable and emotional one as Merewalesi and everyone present shed tears.

Oblivious to what was going on around her, Baby Esther clung tightly to her mum with a curious expression on her face wondering why all of a sudden there were so many people present.

A teary-eyed Baleiniusiladi could hardly utter a word as she stared disbelievingly at her daughter.

While she is serving a life sentence, Baleiniusiladi thanked God for the caring and thoughtful staff at the centre, adding that she did not expect such a celebration.

The Commissioner’s Order provides for babies to be with their mothers while they serve their terms up to the age of six years.

Apart from ensuring that the bond between a mother and her child is maintained, this provision complies with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

www.corrections.org.fj

Other April 2012 News