Civil works have begun on the site of the new Suva remand centre.


Civil works have begun on the site of the new Suva remand centre.

Its completion is expected to greatly reduce the problem of overcrowding at correction centres by at least 50 per cent, said Director of Corporate Services at the Fiji Corrections Service, Peniasi Kunatuba.

Government has allocated a total budget of $4 million for the construction of the centre at Devo next year.

The new centre is expected to hold at least 200 remand inmates, according to Mr Kunatuba.

The age-old problem of overcrowding is the result of the high number of remand inmates who have occupied spaces normally allocated to convicted inmates.