The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma and Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) yesterday signed a memoran­dum of understanding (MOU) on Community Action for the Reha­bilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE Network).

Methodist Church president Reverend Epeneri Vakadewavosa and FCS Commissioner Francis Kean signed the document.

Reverend Vakadewavosa said that a presentation on the CARE Network was made by the FCS Chaplain Reverend Josefa Tiko­natabua at the 2018 Annual Con­ference (Bose Ko Viti) at the Cen­tenary Church in Suva.

He said the delegates from all the church divisions in Fiji were happy with it and unanimously approved a motion for the church to support it.

Yesterday’s signing, he said, was to formalise the agreement made during the Bose Ko Viti.

All Methodist churches around the country would be advised to inform the congregations about the importance of the MOU.

“We support the work and pro­grammes carried out by the Fiji Corrections Service, especially when the inmates are involved,” Reverend Vakadewavosa said.

He said there was a mission passed at the Bose Ko Viti that when the church celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2035, there must be no Methodist inmates in any Corrections centres around the country.

The signing of the MOU, he said, was the beginning of this mis­sion.

Mr Kean said he was very pleased with the support offered by the Methodist Church of Fiji.

The CARE Network’s main tar­get, he said, was to have a con­certed and co-ordinated approach towards supporting rehabilita­tion and reintegration of ex-of­fenders back into the community.

Previously, he said, under In Care, their rehabilitation process ended within the four walls of prison.

FCS, he said, had transformed its focus from containment to ef­fective rehabilitation of inmates.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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