Articles & News

March 25, 2008

Improve jails, Fiji party says

Fiji Times

THE interim Government should make a more concerted effort to improve prison conditions, says the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party.

The party made the comment in reaction to a prison warden supporting the claims of an inmate, who produced a bag of bed bugs in court to show that jail cells were infested and unfit for humans.

The prison officer concurred in the Suva court that prisoners faced inhumane conditions on remand in overcrowded dormitories at the Korovou Prison in Suva.

SDL party director Peceli Kinivuwai said the interim Government had supported the rehabilitation of prisoners but it should start at home.

"They should start it from home, which is the prisons, as improvements in conditions are long overdue," Mr Kinivuwai said.