Drug-related offenses have become the predominant type of crime within Fiji’s prison system, according to Senior Superintendent Isireli Dausiga, the Director of Training and Rehabilitation for the Fiji Corrections Service. He states that a staggering 60 percent of all offenses are now linked to drugs. Many inmates are not only convicted for possession and trafficking of illegal substances but are also found guilty of committing crimes while under the influence.
SSP Dausiga pointed out a pressing need for specialized rehabilitation facilities aimed at drug addicts and users. Discussions are underway to establish drug rehabilitation centers in both the Western and Northern Divisions, specifically designed to address drug-related issues.
He further noted that many prison facilities in Fiji were built during the colonial period and were not intended to facilitate rehabilitation. “The facilities that we have are colonial, and it is a prison. It was made to be a prison. It will always be a prison. But we are working with partners, development partners, to rebuild a new prison in Naboro and close the one in Suva for rehabilitation purposes,” Dausiga explained.
In a collaborative effort to combat drug-related crimes, local villages and traditional leaders are taking proactive steps to eradicate drug cultivation and trafficking within their communities. This initiative highlights a growing recognition of the need for combined efforts in addressing the challenges posed by drug-related offenses, paving the way for a more rehabilitative approach within the prison system and society as a whole.