The Fiji Corrections Service’s (FCS) Yellow Ribbon Project was yesterday praised by participants of the 5th Pacific Islands Regional Conference.

Sixty participants from the regional meeting which ended at the Holiday Inn Suva visited the Suva Corrections Centre and the Women’s Corrections Centre and later the Naboro Corrections Complex yesterday.

They were impressed with the project, a FCS rehabilitation programme to help inmates earn their living when they are released.

Senior supervisor of Nauru Prison and Corrections Service, Lyndia Tagamoun said what she learned while visiting the Fijian centres would help rehabilitate inmates at her island

“I have learned and experienced a lot from touring Fiji’s corrections centres. Our corrections centre in Nauru is very small and we only have eight inmates,” Ms Tagamoun said.

“When we return to Nauru, we will bring changes to our corrections service by 2016.

“The rehabilitation programmes will lower recidivism rate and when our inmates are out of prison, they will get an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves.”

Vanuatu Correctional Centre officer Roslyn Vutinamoli said: “I have learned many things in this conference, but what I have learned from Fiji is very interesting.

“Our corrections service do not have what Fiji Corrections Service has for inmates.”

“Whatever we learn here will help us in Vanuatu. It will reduce crime and also inmates will go out with something they have learned while in the correction centre.”

Papua New Guinea Correctional Service officer Dianne Sikinapl said the Yellow Ribbon Project was among the best in the world.

“Fiji Corrections Service has a lot of interesting things and I am ready to take back what I have learned here like the Yellow Ribbon Project to improve our service in my country,” she said.

“Fiji is well-off and they have good facilities, but in PNG we need some more improvements. I will make a report to my superiors and try to have a rehabilitation programme for our female inmates.”

The conference at the Holiday Inn Suva, ended yesterday.

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