The Fiji Corrections Service has responded to the concerns raised by the Fiji Medical Association regarding the termination of a medical officer previously employed within the FCS saying that there are three distinct matters that need to be addressed.
The FCS says the termination of the medical officer is strictly an employment issue and the officer concerned is free to pursue the matter through the appropriate legal avenues, including the Employment Relations Court, should he wish to challenge the decision.
They say the second matter is the allegation of racism, and the FCS takes all allegations of misconduct, including racial discrimination, very seriously.
They add this particular allegation is being handled internally following due process and the senior officer involved is facing disciplinary action, and an Assistant Commissioner will be travelling to Lautoka next week to formally hear the case.
FCS says the third matter is the vacancy of the medical officer post where the position of Medical Officer is currently vacant and will be advertised in due course.
They say in the interim, two nurse practitioners have been assigned to manage medical services in the central and eastern divisions — one in Suva and another who will be based in Naboro.
FCS says a third nurse practitioner who had initially been appointed has since resigned without assuming the position, and this vacancy will also be re-advertised.
They further say that the Fiji Corrections Service remains committed to maintaining professional standards and ensuring the highest level of healthcare services for those in their care and they will continue to take necessary steps to uphold integrity and address concerns in a fair and transparent manner.
The Fiji Medical Association has raised serious concerns about the alleged conflict of interest by the Commissioner of Corrections, Doctor Jalesi Nakarawa in the appointment of his wife as a Nurse Practitioner at the organisation on the same day as the termination without cause of the Corrections Senior Medical Officer, Doctor Singh.
Association President, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea also says Doctor Nakarawa’s wife working in the senior medical officer role is outside her scope as a Nurse Practitioner.
Doctor Vakamocea says the Fiji Medical Association is deeply concerned about the decision to terminate the doctor following the meeting with the Commissioner and the doctor’s supervisor regarding a racist email.
The Association says it is concerned that the decision to terminate the doctor’s contract without cause was also personally motivated by the Commissioner of Corrections. Doctor Vakamocea says this termination led to the Commissioner’s wife, to take over as the senior medical officer in charge.
He says from the position of the Fiji Medical Association, doctors are trained to have the breadth of knowledge or skills to treat patients to a safe standard and this is not to the same standard as a Nurse Practitioner.
The FMA President says their position is that Nurse Practitioners have their own scope of practice as outlined by the Fiji Nursing Council which dictates that they cannot replace a doctor.
He says nurse practitioners are not allowed to practice medicine unsupervised and as such, Mrs Nakarawa cannot be allowed to practice in this senior medical role or even act as such.
Doctor Vakamocea says they have received a letter from the association member, who was the Senior Medical Officer at Fiji Corrections Service based in Suva.
He says the letter basically articulates his termination without cause by the Commissioner of Corrections, and while they understand that this is within the powers of the Commissioner of Corrections under the contract, the issue of contention here was the timing of the dismissal.
Doctor Vakamocea says on the 20th of January 2025, the doctor had met with his immediate supervisor Alevio Turaga and the Commissioner of Corrections Dr Nakarawa.
This was to discuss a racist email sent from Turaga to the doctor.
According to the doctor this issue was raised directly with Dr Nakarawa after which a meeting was organized between the doctor, Turaga and Dr Nakarawa.
Doctor Vakamocea says the racist remark made by Turaga via email is a direct violation of the multiple human rights namely right to equality and non-discrimination, right to dignity and respect, right to a safe and fair workplace and freedom from racial discrimination.
He says following this meeting, the doctor was then instructed by the Commissioner, to conduct an orientation for new medical staff, one of whom was the wife of the Commissioner.
Immediately following this orientation, Dr Singh was then presented with the dismissal letter.
The Association strongly suggests the concerned parties to investigate this incident as it reflects very poorly on the ethical practice of the Corrections Commissioner, and it negatively affects the safety of those that this medical team serve in the Corrections Service.
We have sent questions to Prime Minister and Chair of the Constitutional Offices Commission, Sitiveni Rabuka and Doctor Nakarawa. They are yet to respond.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
