FCS labels communities the ‘second prison’

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Ex offender Joeli Kubukawa of Dreke village (front right in Blue) shares a light moment with FCS Force Sergeant Major Sailosi Rataba along with his fellow villagers at the Ba Province Yellow Ribbon Symposium organized by Fiji Corrections Service at Girmit Centre in Lautoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH

The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has labelled communities the “second prison” because of the discrimination ex-offenders face when they are released.

FCS rehabilitation director Superintendent Waisale Soqonakalou highlighted this while addressing 210 elders and representatives during the Ba Province Symposium last week.

In addition, SP Soqonakalou said members of the community must avoid discriminating their own sons who had completed their terms in prison.

“They’ve completed their term with us, gone through rehabilitation programs and we’ve unlocked the difficulties they brought with which resulted in their incarceration,” SP Soqonakalou said.

“Once they return to their villages and families, the second prison awaits them and this is a huge trial they are burdened with, to try and be accepted.

“This is the sole reason they reoffend and they’d rather return to their family in prison because they found love and acceptance there.”

SP Soqonakalou said this was the sad reality many ex-offenders faced when they were released.

He said it was for this sole reason that they’ve decided to work with the vanua to be able to unlock this perception of judging and demoralising ex-offenders in their own communities.

“We are pleading with all of you today, accept them and love them when they return to the village.

“They are one of us. They’ve learnt from their mistakes. It is our responsibility to look after them and they will just fit in as members of the community.”

Following last week’s symposium, representatives of the Ba province have together drawn up resolutions to ensure the care of ex-offenders when they return to their villages.

These include visitation of village elders to offenders serving their term, visitation to immediate family of offenders and ensuring their welfare is taken care of once they return to the society.

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