Ilaitia Turuva, a former inmate, was donated farming tools two days before Christmas to help him start his farm.

Mr Turuva received the tools from the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) through their Poverty Alleviation Project (PAP).

He was discharged from the Lautoka Corrections Centre in August after serving a five-year sentence for robbery.

He received the tools at his Veiseisei home in Vuda, Lautoka.

“It is the best Christmas gift,” he said.

“I want to start my farm and move away from a poverty-stricken and crime life which I now regret.”

FCS has assisted over 300 ex-offenders through the PAP since it started in 2010.

Divisional rehab officer West Josaia Walevu said the assistance was to help ex-offenders start their income-generating projects.

“FCS assist them by providing them with tools so that they are busy earning a living and not to reoffend,” he said.

“It is good for them to restart because most of the crimes committed were due to financial constraints.”

He said offenders were provided with farming tools and other items worth $1000 each.

“They are assisted with items that they need according to what they are interested to pursue like fishing net for fishermen, sewing machine, welding machine and so forth,” Mr Walevu said.

“This initiative is able to uplift them from their under-poverty level to a sustainable one.” Edited by: Maikeli Seru

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