PRESS RELEASE – Fiji Corrections Service Showcases Global Rehabilitation Success at Careers Expo

Korovou, Suva – November 28, 2025 – Fiji has set a global benchmark in offender rehabilitation, achieving an unprecedented recidivism rate of just 0.58%, announced the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation at today’s Fiji Corrections Service Employment Expo.

Addressing an audience that included Acting Attorney-General Hon. Siromi Turaga and Permanent Secretary for Justice Ms. Selina Kuruleca, the Minister highlighted Fiji’s remarkable justice sector transformation. Recidivism has fallen from nearly 50% before 2006 to today’s record low—representing only 10 individuals currently in custody who have reoffended. He credited sustained initiatives such as the Yellow Ribbon Project, launched in 2008, and the Employment Expo for driving this success.

The Minister emphasized that rehabilitation is at the heart of modern corrections, restoring trust, strengthening families, and reducing harm. “Employment is the bridge from incarceration to community life—it restores dignity, sustains families, and reduces risk,” he said, acknowledging corporate partners like Raiwaqa Bakery, Flow Valves, SNP, China Railway, Tanoa Group of Companies, Quality Print, and CJ Patel for providing crucial opportunities to ex-offenders.

Since its inception in 2018, the Expo has helped 59 individuals under the care of the Fiji Corrections Service secure employment. The Minister noted that reintegration succeeds when families, communities, and employers work together, underscoring that corrections work does not end at the facility gate.

Turning to the young men and women in attendance, the Minister described a career in corrections as a national calling, not just a job. “This role demands firmness anchored in law, empathy guided by humanity, and the courage to contain, maintain, and rehabilitate,” he said. He outlined a career path offering structure, leadership, and skills that advance national development, urging youth to explore opportunities at the Expo and contribute to building a safer, more prosperous Fiji.

The Minister commended the Fiji Corrections Service for its steadfast commitment, noting that the historic 0.58% recidivism rate reflects a system delivering transformative results for the nation. He concluded with a direct message to young people: “Approach today with intent. Learn, engage, and step forward with purpose. Fiji needs disciplined young people who choose responsibility.”

To read more of Hon. Gavoka’s speech, please click this link: https://shorturl.at/3cUxO

ENDS

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