Corrections strengthens bussiness units, Public Accounts Committee told
The Fiji Corrections Services’ total expenditure for established staff in 2015 was around $19 million.
The issue came under scrutiny while the Public Accounts Committee was hearing submissions from Corrections Commissioner, Commander Francis Kean on the 2015 Auditor General’s Report in Parliament yesterday.
However, the report stated in 2014 the total expenditure for established staff was $16.3m, which was an increase of $2.7m in 2015.
The issue of established staff was highlighted in the operating expenditure. Commander Kean said there was a huge recruitment drive for corrections officers in 2015 due to many reasons.
The operating expenditure for the Fiji Corrections Services stood at $25.6m in 2015 compared to $23 mil in 2014.
The report also stated that the total capital expenditure in 2015 was $7m compared to $6.6m in 2014.
In total, the total expenditure in 2015 was $34.8m compared to $31.5m in 2014 Committee chair, Ashneel Sudhakar then questioned why there was an increase of $3.27m in total expenditure from 2014 to 2015.
In response, Corrections Services accounts officer, Aporosa Toroca said most of the increase in expenditure was due to the increase in the number of established staff.
The report further stated that more than 300 corrections officers were recruited within 3 years from 2013 to 2015.
The increase in inmate numbers, Commander Kean said led to the huge recruitment drive of corrections officers in 2015. Importantly, he added they needed to improve the ratio of correctional staff and inmates. Commander Kean said the recruitment also assisted them in safely escorting inmates to court. He added they were able to execute the roles bestowed on them like monitoring inmates while cleaning public cemeteries or the President’s residence. Commander Kean said their work required security and there was a need for more manpower.
The report also stated that other increases of expenditure were attributed to the poverty alleviation programme which assisted 103 inmates and capital construction costs including the new Lautoka Remand Centre.