Yellow Ribbon Programme Pre-launch  

The pre-launch of the Yellow Ribbon Project, a community wide Rehabilitation Project for offenders was held at the Suva Civic Centre on Friday, 27th June, 2008. The event was launched by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mr Aiyaz Khaiyum where thousands of yellow balloons were released into the air to mark the inaugural pre-launch of this initiative.

In a rousing speech, the key note address by the Minister explained the goals of the project and offered a challenge to the 300 odd guests representing the wide spectrum of Fiji's community, present for the occassion. Well known Fiji TV news reader Mr Inoke Bainmimarama, who is ANZ's Marketing Manager, was master of ceremony and skillfully guided the guest through the programme.
In attendance were various church and religious organizations, representatives of the vanua (province) non governmental organization, representatives of international organizations, representatives of banks and coperate organizations, various private commercial companies, ambassadors, civil servants and current Ministers. The project Yellow Ribbon, named after the famous song of the 70's, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon on the Olc Oak tree", seeks the forgiveness of ex-offenders from the community and implores them to offer them a second chance in life. While offenders serve their sentences in prison, they in reality go through another prison on their release because of the negative stigma associated with background as former prisoners.
This has often constrained the ex-offenders desire to be re-integrated back into society, as the stigma associated with their status often blocks the windows of opportunities that may come their way. 

The goals of the project are threefold. The first is to create an AWARENESS amongst the community of the need to give a second chance to ex-offenders. The second is to generate ACCEPTANCE of the ex-offenders and their families into the community. The third is to inspire community action to support the rehabilitation and re-integration of ex-offenders back into their midst. The focus of the initiative is the community and we all have a part to play in this. The Lord Mayor of Suva Ratu Peni Volavola in his speech made a plea with all the stakeholders to come forward and be part of this new initiative. The Assistant Secretary of the Methodist church of Fiji Rev Tuikilakila Waqairatu, provided a biblical backdrop to the project and challenged all citizens to part-take in this worthy cause.

A serving offender, Mr Albertino Shanker spoke on behalf of all offenders, seeking forgiveness from all sectors of society for any wrong committed against them. In a heart wrenching speech, he pleaded with the community to give him and all his colleagues a second chance in life. This was received with wide applause from all stakeholders at the launch. Entertainment were provided by inmates of Nasinu and Suva institutions with lively spear and fan dances. The mixture of races in the cultural items was an indication of the closeness developed amongst the inmates from the rehabilitation projects currently undertaken inside.

A buffet lunch of local but exotic sea foods was the menu of the day as the 300 odd guests ate to their hearts desire. The officers wives headed by the Commissioner's wife catered for the guests bringing in supplies from throughout the Prison centres in Fiji. In a moving closing statement, the Commissioner of Prisons Brigadier Iowane Naivalurua again challenged all stakeholders present to stand up and be counted by participating actively in the project.