The non-acceptance of former inmates, who have been discharged after serving their sentence, by some iTaukei villagers, has posed a worry for the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS).

And this is why the FCS is urging those responsible to accept family members or fellow villagers who have served their term in prison and released into society.

During a talanoa session at Galoa Village on last Friday night FCS Yellow Ribbon Programme co-ordinator Waisale Soqanakalou said this trend seemed to be common among some iTaukei and was a cause of great concern.

“We urge village elders and youths to accept former inmates who have gone through the Yellow Ribbon Programme and have served their time,” Mr Soqanakalou said.

There should be light at the end of the tunnel.

He said the FCS has discovered that some inmates upon returning to their villages were not accepted and have been shunned.

“From our findings we have discovered that some have been pushed away or were ignored in their own villages. We want the vanua, the church, youth groups and parents to accept them,” Mr Soqanakalou.

“Society must take a proactive stance. It is not good to shun fellow villagers who have done their time and paid the penalty for their wrong doing.

“Through the Yellow Ribbon Programme inmates are prepared in mind and soul through counselling before they were released to return to their village.”

He said every inmate was a brother, sister and must be accepted by the church and families.

“Awareness is important for the iTaukei communities and that is why we are visiting and promoting rehabilitation in villages,” Mr Soqanakalou said.

Galoa Village headman Beranado Gonerara, 65, said the visits from the FCS were well accepted and he believed that the discussion of accepting inmates was of great importance.

“These are human beings, they are our own families, accepting them can help an individual from repeating the same mistake,” Mr Gonerara said.

Edited by Percy Kean

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