The Public Accounts Committee yesterday toured both the Naboro and Nasinu medium prisons.

The visit was part of a submission made by the Fiji Corrections Service on their Prisoners and Employees Management System (PEAMS).

FCS Commissioner Francis Kean explained that they have a rehabilitation centric approach to ensure inmates not only have a second chance at life after prison but that while imprisoned they attain a recognized skill.

“It’s a mammoth task we undertake here in corrections in rehabilitating those that come under our care, it’s not an easy task and some of the things you witnessed on your tour today down at Naboro, at the farm and also at the medium corrections centre are some of the tools, rehabilitation tolls that the Fiji Corrections Service actually delivers to try and get back on track the lives of those that come under our care.”

As part of the tour, PAC members were shown the tailoring and agriculture programs run in Naboro in addition to their automotive engineering program in Nasinu.

As part of the FCS’s small business programs, Commissioner Kean says a confirmed a target of $750 000 is earmarked to be earned this year which will be given to government.

PAC Interim Chair government MP Vijendra Prakash says he and other members of the committee have been impressed with what they’ve seen.

“It’s an eye opener for all the committee members and we are really proud to see them walk the talk by the Prison department and the change that has taken place from the year 2016.  And we are so proud to see that the level of inmates coming into the prison have been decreasing and at the same time we are seeing that they’re also able to be trained as business people.”

Opposition MP Adi Litia Qionibaravi also noted that it was especially impressive to note that the FCS had partnered with the Fiji Higher Education Commission to certify courses run at prisons.

As a result, inmates would be able to upskill and once their term is served, they would have a formal qualification that they could use to get employment.