Former inmates on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan

Parents, especially fathers, play an important role in the development of a child and for former Fiji Corrections Service inmate Isaiah Holmes, not having that support, resulted in him being vulnerable to making mistakes.

While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Holmes says while growing up, he had no father figure and no guidance, where he relied on his uncles and other family members for advice.

Holmes served time for counterfeiting charges when he was 29 years old, and according to him, when children do not have a role model or someone to guide them in life, that is where they are vulnerable to making a lot of mistakes.

The former inmate says as a young boy from Lautoka, he dreamt of becoming an engineer, and with dedication, he received a scholarship to study Bachelor of Engineering at the University of the South Pacific after his studies at Natabua High School.

Holmes received his Bachelor of Engineering after four and a half years of study, but peer pressure and following the wrong crowd distracted him.

When asked about the mistake that cost him part of his life in prison, Holmes says at that time, he thought he was going to get away with counterfeiting.

He shared that he wanted to organise a farewell party when he was moving from one department to another, but he ran out of funds and became desperate.

He says he got caught the same night and ended up in a Police cell, which was his first experience.

Holmes had counterfeited a few $100 notes which he used at a nightclub.

He adds that his freedom was taken away, and he felt deep regret for his actions.

Holmes highlighted that prison is not a good place to be because the freedom he experienced outside was no more.

He says prison time was quite harsh, but it's something he had to accept and move on from.

Contraband items is one of the major challenges the Fiji Corrections Service is battling with, and according to Suva Corrections Centre Officer In-charge and Deputy Superintendent of Corrections Josaia Naikalivou, family members are the ones trying to infiltrate the contraband into the institution.

While responding to a question on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan on how the Corrections Service is ensuring that contraband is stopped immediately, Naikalivou says one way they are trying to tackle this is by addressing the issue with the families during visiting hours on Saturdays.

He says they are aware that family members pass contraband items during visiting hours, court hearings or hospital visits.

When asked what type of contraband items they are regularly finding, the Deputy Superintendent says they are finding phones, marijuana, and suki.

He says in some cases, they find white substances believed to be methamphetamine, which they send for analysis.