Inmates help staff of the FCS clean up along the seawall in Suva.


Inmates and staff of the Fiji Corrections Service today cleaned up the seawall in the capital as part of the departments’ civic pride engagement.

Led by the Commissioner of Corrections Lieutenant Colonel Ifereimi Vasu, senior officers and staff of headquarters, the group was joined by a few inmates from the Suva Corrections Centre.

Corrections spokeswoman Ana Tamani said the quarterly activity is part of the departments’ efforts to engage with the community.

‘We want to contribute to keeping Fiji clean in a small way and we feel everyone should do the same and have a sense of pride for Suva.

Lt. Col Vasu expressed concern at the amount of refuse dumped along the seawall adding that people must learn to take responsibility.

‘We would live in a cleaner environment if everyone puts their rubbish in the right place,’ Lt. Col Vasu said.

Mrs Tamani said the involvement of inmates in the departments’ activities is in line with the Yellow Ribbon initiative in giving offenders a second chance.

“While we are contributing to the keeping the environment clean, we also want to give inmates a sense of purpose and belonging,” she said.

“We want the communities out there to get used to seeing offenders take part in these kind of initiatives because it helps to restore relationships with them and ensures their successful reintegration back into society,” she added. 

www.corrections.org.fj

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