The mini-mart at Naboro is serving over 300 families of
officers working for FCS.

The Commissioner of Corrections, Lieutenant Colonel Ifereimi Vasu hosted several Suva businessmen to a cocktail over the weekend to thank them for supporting the expansion of the Naboro Mart. 

He also took the opportunity to brief the businessmen of some of the initiatives being undertaken by the Fiji Corrections Service such as the Yellow Ribbon Project and the commercialization of its enterprises to enhance the rehabilitation of offenders. 

Among the businessmen were the managing-director of J Santaram Supermarket, Mr J Santaram and his wife who are the main suppliers to the Naboro Mart. Other guests included Hari Punja of Flour Mills, Dewand Chand of Dee Cees Buses, Mr Pratap Singh of Fatty’s Shop and Mr Roshan Ali of Sam Ross of Suva. 

Lt-Col Vasu related the history of the Mart from an under-utilised small cooperative shop operated by corrections officers to a well stocked and thriving trading centre with potential for even more growth. 

“Now it is a thriving business catering for the welfare of the officers and their families,” he said. 

“The opportunity was given to Mr [Dhansukhlal] Bhika because of his business expertise to run it. He was given six months to turn the place around and now it is actually a mini-mart.”
He said plans are afoot to expand the activities in the Mini-mart into an internet café, hairdresser, medical unit, coffee shop, refreshment bar and an ATM machine. 

Lt. Col Vasu said with the proposed Namosi Mine development, the facility will be a major stopover for visitors making the journey from Suva to the West or vice-versa. 

Mr Punja has offered to set up a signboard along the main road to inform the travelling public of the mart. 

Lt-Col Vasu thanked the businessmen for their support. 

www.corrections.org.fj