Lau Makes Historic Visit

The province of Lau has agreed to secure a piece of land for the purpose of rehabilitation of Lau offenders when they come out of prison.

This was confirmed to Lau inmates when the Lau Provincial Council members and chiefs of Lau adjourned their quarterly meeting to make a special visit to Lau inmates in prisons. Lau inmates at the Medium Security Prison had made the request for a piece of land that could be used for rehabilitation purposes and also as revenue generating enterprise for the provincial council.
The province had previously allocated a land for prisoners rehabilitation under the late Tui Nayau Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. 
It was a historic visit to Naboro Prisons Headquarters for the province’s chiefs and council members to meet with Lau inmates from six prisons in the Suva/Nausori area. Over 60 Lau inmates from the four institutions in Naboro – Minimum, Medium, Maximum and Pre-Release, Suva and Nasinu were present.

‘The province of Lau is standing behind offenders from the province and will try whatever it can to assist in their rehabilitation,” assured council chairman, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba(Roko Ului) at the church service on Sunday June 29, 2008. Roko Ului had a special session with the inmates where special requests were made by individual inmates regarding personal needs and problems. The Council led by the deputy chairman, Ratu Josefa Basulu, the Sau kei Mualevu, and the Roko Tui Lau, Peni Sokia, met with the inmates on Friday June 27, 2008 and discussed problems facing the inmates and their families.

It was the first time that a province had not only taken its provincial council members and chiefs to the prisons, but had also held a provincial church service in the prisons. It was the first time that inmates from one province were brought together to one location not only for the church service but to also meet with chiefs and provincial council members. Hosting the Lau chiefs and members of the Lau Provincial Council was the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Auta Moceisuva. Mr Moceisuva said the department hoped that other provinces would be encouraged by the examples shown by the province of Lau to visit their members and demonstrating care and concern for their interest.