Under the Corrections Service Act, serving inmates are encouraged to participate in sporting activities inside and outside of prison.

This was clarified by Attorney- General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday while responding to an oral question regarding the participation of serving inmates in national rugby sevens tournaments.

He read excerpts of the Act which stated that all sentenced prisoners must be provided with the opportunity to participate in programmes, including drug and alcohol, parenting, personal hygiene, sports and recreation and spiritual development.

He said powers existed within the Act and subsidiary legislations for the Commissioner of Corrections Service to carry out such measures where he/she believed that inmates could be rehabilitated.

Programmes are organised for inmates’ capacity building.

“Organised sports builds positive self-regard and fosters positive self-esteem, a healthier lifestyle and teaches social values such as sportsmanship, participation, team work, cooperation, respect, discipline and goodwill,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“All sentenced prisoners are to be permitted and encouraged to participate in an organised sport or organised sports and recreation indoors every now and then.”

“The officer in charge with the approval of the commissioner with conditions may allow for a prisoner to take part in competitive sports outside the prison.”

“Upon the completion of the prisoner’s participation in such sports the officer in charge must ensure that a written report on the prisoner’s participation is forwarded to the commissioner and a copy of which is kept in the prisoners file.”

“It’s all there.”

“Please read the laws of Fiji.”

He added there were also schemes for early release of inmates and short term release into the care and supervision of traditional chiefs.

With the Yellow Ribbon programme, he said Fiji’s recidivism rate had decreased over the years to 1.06 per cent currently.
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