Rev. Lasaro of Fiji seeks jail aid review

By MONIKA SINGH
Thursday, October 16, 2008

FORMER Methodist Church president Rever-end Manasa Lasaro says there is a need to review the Fiji Prisons Service-aid backed programs.

Speaking at the 2nd Heads of Pacific Islands Corrections Conference at the Forum Secretariat on Tuesday, Mr Lasaro said most donor agencies provided assistance to the prisons service.

But, he said, these donor agencies already had programs in mind to suit their own agenda.

He said donor agencies should give the prisons department the responsibility of designing its own programs for the good of the inmates.

Prisons Commissioner Ioane Naivalurua said they had been discussing the issue with AUSAid, which is currently reviewing its justice, law and order program.

He said they agreed that emphasis should be placed on the prisons and prisoners so that the aid could be used for their rehabilitation.

Mr Lasaro said the plenary discussions on the issue highlighted that the Fiji Prisons Service should be sustainable so that smaller programs could be introduced in prison.

He said the prisons service should continue to place emphasis on rehabilitation programs.

He said the concept of reintegration was a deep cultural issue for Christians and should be encouraged.

"In our restorative justice model, we mainly care for the prisoners but we have also given prominence to the victims of crimes," he said.

Mr Lasaro said there should also be alternative punishment to imprisonment, especially for young offenders.

"I propose a youth court to intervene before the person is sent to prison," he said.