The remand centre in Vaturekuka are overcrowded, says Fiji Corrections Service acting commissioner Salote Panapasa.
She said there was a lack of adequate space to accommodate remand prisoners according to the holding capacity in Suva and Labasa.
Ms Panapasa said there were individuals who have yet to be found convicted. “We don’t have any problem with overcrowding of prisoners,” she said.
“However, we have quite a big number of remand prisoners who are coming into the system.”
She said the present challenge lied in the increasing number of remand prisoners entering the system rather than any issue with convicted prisoners.
“Remand prisoners have not been found guilty, but their cases are still before the courts,” she said.
For Vaturekuka, it was facing a staggering 59 per cent overcrowding issue, according to director rehabilitation Waisale Soqonakalou.
With a remand capacity originally designed to hold 22 individuals, he said the facility was currently accommodating 81 inmates awaiting trial.
“This is far exceeding its intended capacity,” Mr Soqonakalou said.
Moreover, he said the convict capacity of Vaturekuka Prison, set at 106 “However, this is not strained, as it currently houses 106 individuals,” he said.
However, during his presentation he did not reveal the reasons behind the lack of bail approval by the court.
“Efforts to address the overcrowding issue at Vaturekuka Prison are underway,” he said.
He said they were exploring potential solutions to alleviate the strain on the facility.
To address the issue, she said there were plans in progress to construct a dedicated remand centre for prisoners.
