Corrections Service inmates playing useful role in economy

The idea to deploy Fiji Corrections Service inmates to help in sugarcane harvesting is a brilliant one.

The Fiji Correction Service has started its Operation Musu Dovu for the 2020 season.

The initiative, which began in 2016, has virtually become a permanent fixture of the sugar industry calendar. The inmates fill a need for cane cutters. Farmers have struggled to harvest their cane during the crushing season because of a shortage of labour. For some reason,cane cutting as a seasonal form of employment is no longer attractive and so every year farmers have difficulties finding enough cane cutters.

Deputy Commissioner of Corrections, Senior Superintendent Apakuki Qura said “the deployment of prisoners to assist and support this much needed economic activity has been a win-win for the farmers, Fiji Sugar Corporation, our country’s economy and those under our care”.

SSPT Qura explained that “despite the influx of cane harvesting machines into the industry in the two main sugar cane divisions, the demand for cane harvesting gangs is still in there especially for farms on hilly terrain”.

“This year we have deployed a total of 126 prisoners into the Western and Northern Division to harvest cane for 132 farmers.

“We expect to harvest approximately 16,900 tonnes of sugar cane this year compared to 13,011 tonnes in the 2019 season.”

SSPT Qura added “that the prisoners do get paid for their services and it is a much looked forward to period for prisoners who eagerly want to participate in cane harvesting and earn some income prior to being discharged”.

The project provides a rehabilitation platform for prisoners. They earn some money on the side and they learn self discipline , commitment, and self worth.

The energy that they use to commit offences in the first place can be redirected for their personal development.

The project prepares them to return to the community and integrate. It will help to remove the stigma that is associated with their old background.

Many of their predecessors have turned their lives around through rehabilitation programmes like the Yellow Ribbon project. Musu Dovu is one of them. The inmates are helping themselves and the economy.