Chand reflects on evolving Corrections Service
Sergeant Major Saten Chand reflects on 30 years of service and the shift from containment to rehabilitation in Fiji’s correctional system.
Tuesday 28 October 2025 | 00:00
Fiji Corrections Service Sergeant Major Saten Chand at the Naboro Prison Complex, near Suva on October 27, 2025.
Photo: Talei Roko
The Fiji Corrections Service has evolved from a system focused on containment to one that values rehabilitation and second chances, says Sergeant Major Saten Chand.
Sergeant Major Chand shared this during FCS’s 150th anniversary celebration yesterday, reflecting on his 30 years of service. He was among 38 medal recipients honoured at the event.
From Sigatoka Valley in Navosa, Chand began his career on July 5, 1995.
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“When I joined, it was still called the Fiji Prison Service,” Sergeant Major Chand said. “We had few staff, limited resources, and our focus was mainly on custody and discipline. Rehabilitation was a new idea.”
His first posting was at the Medium Correction Centre, followed by six months at the Maximum Correction Centre. In 1996, he transferred to Suva Prison, now Suva Corrections Centre, where he spent a decade in operations, escort duties, the kitchen, and stores.
Over time, Sergeant Major Chand witnessed the transformation of the service from strict containment to a modern system that promotes rehabilitation, education, and second chances.
“I’ve seen how FCS has grown,” he said. “From old cells and limited facilities to modern centres that teach skills, values, and respect.”
In 2021, Sergeant Major Chand was appointed to lead the Tailoring Unit at the Medium Correction Centre in Naboro, training inmates in sewing and business management.
“Rehabilitation is about hope,” he said. “We teach them to work hard and prepare for life outside.”
Today, Sergeant Major Chand serves at the Trade Manufacturing Account in Naboro, where inmates learn farming, poultry, and piggery programmes that build both skills and character. As one of the few Indo-Fijians in a mostly iTaukei profession, Chand says he is proud to be part of a united team.
“We work together as one family,” he said. “Our mission is to change lives.”
Marking 150 years of service, Chand believes FCS is moving in the right direction.
“We’ve come a long way,” Sergeant Major Chand said. “FCS has grown stronger through the years; more humane, more focused, and more committed to rehabilitation.”
His advice to youth is simple: “Stay away from crime. Use your freedom wisely. It’s never too late to change.”
After three decades in uniform, Sergeant Major Chand's dedication reflects FCS’s proud 150-year legacy, a legacy built on discipline, compassion, and hope for a better Fiji.
