Corrections officers are poorly paid and have not had a pay rise in the last 10 years - Turaga

Fiji Corrections Service officers are poorly paid, have not had a pay rise in the last 10 years and have worked in very trying circumstances.

This has been highlighted by Attorney General Siromi Turaga during his tour of the Lautoka Corrections Facility.

Turaga says his aim is to ensure that the job evaluation exercise is done, the officers get improved terms and conditions, and are happy.

He says when they are happy, they will look after the inmates well as they are just humans.

The Attorney General says he wants to ensure that the inmates have the best care, they are treated well, and looked after well and at the same time the same care that is accorded to them should also be given to the Corrections officers.

He says they are engaging with partners because the government does not have all the money.

Turaga says they are working with their partners for the rehabilitation of the inmates so that when they go back, there will be some economic activity to support them.

The Attorney General says they are working with their partners to provide counselling, psychologist training and even advanced training.

He further says it is important to know that the Minister cares for them because the previous Attorney General, although was the Minister responsible for the Fiji Corrections Service, had little interaction with them.