Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) officers face more difficulties in performing their role than their counterparts in the police and military forces.
Attorney-General and Justice Minister Siromi Turaga said this while speaking on a motion in Parliament by Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights member Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure to debate the review of the Fiji Corrections Service annual report 2017–2018.
The A-G said the working environment could be very challenging and there was a need to address the trauma associated with such work.
“The approach now is to try and create an environment in which welfare of corrections officers are looked after,” he said. “Moving forward, this will include the upgrading of correctional officers accommodation, and so forth.
“It’s also envisioned that there will be a dialogue with the vice-chancellor of the University of a South Pacific for corrections officers to further their education.
“Not only at the university, but other regional institutions in response to the better discharge of their duties.”
Opposition Whip Alvick Maharaj said given the environment they worked in, more emphasis needed to be given to corrections officers to help them cope mentally with the challenges they faced on a daily basis.
He said the standing committee identified a high turnover rate in the reported year because of retirement, resignation and dismissals. “We need to keep in mind that staff of corrections services are not dealing with normal people,” he said.
“They are criminals and dealing with them is not easy. The staff, they go through a lot of pressure and stress which also impacts on their psychology.
“We need to ensure that proper consideration is given towards the health and wellbeing of corrections staff.
“The environment in which they work is very different with all sorts of inmates around them, it becomes a very tough situation for them to deal with it as these staff are not health professionals and are not aware of how to deal with the mindsets of inmates.”
