Corrections officers during the captain of lives workshop at Natabua.

We cannot be captains of lives if we do not captain our lives well, officers at the Ba Corrections Centre were told last night.

Yellow Ribbon Project Coordinator, Chief Corrections Officer Isireli Dausiga was talking to 24 officers during a Captains of Lives workshop last night.

CCO Dausiga said it was important that officers improve their standard of service to inmates and must serve them fairly and with openness.

He said inmates are also humans and they needed to be treated equally.

COC Dausiga said if officers want to earn respect from inmates, they should first respect them.

“This is the challenge to all of us, we should lead by example. Show them the way forward and they will change. But we should change our mindset from negative to positive,” said COC Dausiga.

He believes that following the workshop, officers will understand their roles and become better rehabilitation officers.

“Look beyond their imprisonment. Treat them well and take care of them.

COC Dausiga said the Corrections Service was embarking on a rehabilitation process as one of its key roles to ensure that inmates have something to take back with them when they are released. 

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