12 Corrections Officers awarded Distinguished Service Medals

12 Corrections Officers who rescued the 70 officers who were held as hostages at the Naboro Prison during the 2000 coup were awarded Distinguished Service Medals for their brave actions in the Fiji Investiture ceremony today.

They were awarded medals for “conspicuous gallantry or valuable service characterized by resourcefulness and devotion to duty including prolonged service marked by exception ability, merit and exemplary conduct by officers of the Fiji Corrections Services”.

President Jioji Konrote presented their medals at State House earlier today.

Superintendent Sakiusa Veiwili says the hostage situation lasted for nine days at the Medium Corrections Centre and two weeks at the Maximum Corrections Centre in Naboro.

Veiwili says every morning, the wives and children of the officers that were held hostage had asked them of what was happening and if they were still alive.

He says with all this, they had to make a move and they were told that there was also a hostage situation in Parliament at that particular time which ran concurrent with the Naboro situation.

Meanwhile Principal Corrections Officer Josateki Savou says there was a mass breakout of inmates and they stopped them at the Delaibutadroka in Naboro.

He says there was a warning given for the inmates to return to their respective locations which went well.

The other recipients of this award are Senior Superintendent Jo Kulidilo, Principal Corrections Officer Trevor Raiwalui, Principal Corrections Officer Laisiasa Malumu-drodro, Corrections Officer Class A Jone Vasuca, Corrections Officer Class A Vilikesa Guva, Corrections Officer Class A Esala Ravono-kula, Corrections Officer Class B Timici Ranuve, Corrections Officer Class B Watisoni Rokoyadre and Corrections Officer Class B Saula Vuira.

The Other Order Of Fiji Awards are as follows:

Companion of the Order of Fiji

- Filipe Nagera Bole

- Joketani Cokanasiga

- Ikbal Jannif

- Amraiya Naidu

Officer of the Order of Fiji

- Nur Bano Ali

- Dr. Virgilio De Asa

- Iliesa Delana

- Peter James Drysdale

- Bhuwan Dutt

- Takehito Inoue

- Ravindran Robin Nair

- John O’Connor

- Rosie Whtton

Honourary Officer of the Order of Fiji

- Dorothy Beeve

- Jerold Beeve

- Sister An1gela Cavey

- Peter Jonh Dudek Cole

- Margaret Long

Member of the Order of Fiji

- Iliesa Baravilala

- Jemesa matakinaseneti Bolabiu

- Dr. Odille Chang

- Adi Salaseini Kavu Fong

- Himmat Lodhia

- Swani Kumar Maharaj

- Bhaichand Dalpat Patel

Medal of the Order of Fiji

- Saiyad Faiaaz Ali

- Abinesh Kumar Chand

- Ram Chandra

- Jay Prakash Dayal

- Pastor Iliesa Tuiloma dakuitoga

- katalaini Bau Takape Delana

- Suman Lata Lal

- Laisa Cina Lewanavanua

- Etonia Lote

- John Mahadeo

- Adi Lanieta Burasia Matavesi

- Ishwari Prasad

- Tarun Kumar Soni

- Ilisoni Taoba

- Ana Tuketei

- Alanieta masirewa utovou

- Ratu Sevanai Vatunitu

President’s Medal

- Kinisimere Babasiga

- Pita Duituturaga

- Penijamini Kuivalebula

Bravery Medal

- Edward Daniel Reece

- Bow Francis Sansom

- Captain Jioeli Vuki