CASH FOR CONS

Fiji Sun - 10 May 2010

The business arm of the Prisons and Correction Service, the Fiji Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise, will employ inmates.  Commissioner Brigadier-General Ioane Naivalurua said they had started groundwork and had fast-tracked it so that the programme would start by 2012.  “We’ve started the groundwork and the company should start by 2012,” Mr Naivalurua said. He said the company would be an independent entity of Fiji Prisons with professional people running it.  Mr Naivalurua said as Commissioner of Prisons he would not be involved in the running of the company.  However, he said when the company would need labourers; he would give the first chance to inmates. “They will be paid just like normal workers but we’re going to bank their salaries and will give them that when they’re released,” he said. The business arm of the Fiji Prisons is established under the Prisons and Corrections Act 2006.  The Act states:  “Provision may be made by regulation, and supported by commissioner’s orders, encouraging the establishment and development of prison enterprises, and the appropriate involvement of prisoners so as to enhance their rehabilitation and opportunities, and such provision may include: n the setting of prices and charges on a commercial basis; n the imposition of the ‘user pays’ principle; n the establishment and proper operation and accounting of special funds established in accordance with law to facilitate commercial enterprises; and n any other matter that fosters prison enterprises and the meaningful participation of appropriate prisoners in them. Mr Naivalurua said preparations included the planting of 28,000 cassava stems worth $19,050 at 90 cents per kilogramme and 196,000 dalo worth $191,600 at $1 per kg.  They have a poultry farm and are selling eggs to customers as more orders flow in.  The poultry farm, has layers (4306) worth $34,480 at $8 each and brooding chicks worth $6262 at $3.80 each.  The piggery has 229 head worth $47,550. They have 28 cows worth $12,500. They have a fish and vegetable farm. He said all were managed by inmates who had gained good experience from the hands-on training.  He said it was part of training to prepare inmates for a good future when released. “We’re preparing the inmates to live a better future when they’re released and this will require positive support from members of the public, especially when they’re released.” He urged people to change their perception of inmates.  “They’re human beings and at all times they should be treated like one.”  He said whatever money inmates got from employment in the programme could be used to start their own business.  Mr Naivalurua said the main problem they faced was the acceptance of the inmates back into society. However, he said their awareness workshops through the Yellow Ribbon Programme was now making a positive impact. Prisons offer ‘bread of life’ 10 May 2010  The Fiji Prisons and Correction Service will soon start selling bread to the public. To becalled ‘bread of life’, the loaves will be baked by by inmates of the maximum security jail, Fiji Prisons Commissioner Brigadier-General Ioane Naivalurua said. The Fiji Sun was on Saturday granted a tour of the Naboro prison farm and the bakery inside the maximum prison.  The bakers are under the guidance of Gau native, Peniasi Loco.  Mr Naivalurua said he had met their baker three years ago and now he was on their pay roll as a baker.  His role is to bake and teach inmates how to bake all kinds of bread, including buns.   He said they had bought a new oven for baking.  Mr Naivalurua said they would entering very tough competition with other bakeries but promised the ‘bread of life’ would be the best bread in the country.   “I have been given an assurance from Mr Loco that the ‘bread of life’ will be the best in the country,” Mr Naivalurua said. He said when released, the inmate bakers would use their baking skills to find jobs or set up their own business.  Many had shown their interest in the bread of life, he said.  They will be selling all types of bread and will soon be on the shelves.  Only those in the Maximum Cell are engaged in baking. They are offered courses and private tutors are engaged.