𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄, 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔 𝐉𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐀 𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐔 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐄

The Assistant Minister for Justice, Mr Josaia Niudamu visited the prisoners deployed to harvest sugarcane at Rakiraki and Tavua today. Accompanied by the Supervisor Western Division, SSPT Trevor Raiwalui the purpose of the visit was to show morale support and to reassure the prisoners of the Ministry’s support towards this worthwhile initiative.

The Assistant Mnister for Justice spoke to the prisoners and encouraged them to maintain good behavior and work productivity. Further, the programe, contributed towards empowering individual financial capability as well as fulfilling the nation’s economic growth policy of diversification. “It provides the inmates with skills set to earn a decent income and manage their financials to provide for their children, spouse and family needs in the community while in custody” said Ratu Niudamu.

The visit today coincided with the Ministry of Justice’s strategic focus designed to boost individual morale, reset focus and align governments desire to meaningfully rehabilitate the prisoners. Moreover, the intiative serves to prepare the inmates towards a seamless transition to society upon release.

The Assistant Minister commended the FCS as the sugarcane cutting programme contributed towards changing societal perceptions on the stigma of imprisonment, facilitate sustainable development and reducing crimes.