THE Nasinu Town Council has expressed support for the implementation of community service as an alternative to incarceration, particularly in addressing the growing problem of littering in Fiji.
The initiative has been endorsed by Justice Minister Siromi Turaga, who has called for community service to be considered for social issues such as waste management, an approach that council special administrators chair Jone Tuiono has also backed.
However, Mr Tuiono said such a measure should be applied case-by-case to ensure fairness and effectiveness.
He noted that while community service could be a positive alternative to prison time, repeat offenders should not be granted leniency.
“Each case should be evaluated separately and punishment determined accordingly,” Mr Tuiono said.
“For example, repeat offenders should be spared leniency. The good gesture should not be allowed to be abused at the hands of offenders.”
Mr Tuiono said while the proposal sounds promising, the effectiveness of community service as a penalty would depend on the mindset of the public, particularly their adherence to the law and their willingness to comply with regulations.
“There are existing laws which clearly stipulate how community service should be applied.
“The Community Work Act 1994, Section 3, outlines how the act is to be used when sentencing individuals for community work, while the Litter Act 2008, Sections 6, subsections 4 and 5, gives powers to litter prevention officers to require offenders to perform instant community service in the area where the offense occurred.”
Mr Tuiono said the council had been practicing community work for less serious offences, particularly for those who commit littering violations.
He said the council was prepared to further implement this initiative if it was officially adopted.
