The Corrections Commissioner can allow prisoners to participate in sporting activities – AG

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says under orders stipulated in the Fiji Corrections Service Act, the Corrections Commissioner can allow prisoners to participate in sporting activities.

He made this clear after NFP MP Lenora Qereqeretabua asked Sayed-Khaiyum to inform parliament of the policy that permits a serving inmate to participate in a national 7s tournament.

Sayed-Khaiyum says there is no such thing as a policy when it comes to government regarding the running of the Corrections Service nor is there a policy by the Commissioner of Corrections.

He says the Corrections Commissioner cannot run on policies as he goes by the law.

He says that with the Yellow Ribbon Project and the orders put in the gazette, they have seen the rate of recidivism in Fiji drop tremendously.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds that at one point in time the rate of recidivism in Fiji was 50%.

SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula then asked Sayed-Khaiyum if the Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner could use his discretion under the Yellow Ribbon Project to permit a talented player to represent Fiji or a province.

Sayed-Khaiyum says they do not make those decisions.

NFP MP Lenora Qereqeretabua then said the Attorney General has been going around and around trying to justify this.

She says the women of Fiji are looking keenly on this issue.

In response, Sayed-Khaiyum says he is beholden to the law.