More than $800,000 has been utilised under the Yellow Ribbon Programme since 2022 to support rehabilitation, reintegration and post-release assistance for inmates and former inmates, Parliament has been told.
In a written response to Opposition MP Jone Usamate, Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga outlined the operational and financial outputs of the programme from 2022 to the 2025-2026 financial year.
Turaga said the Yellow Ribbon Programme was not solely based on inmate enrolment numbers, but functioned as a broader rehabilitation and reintegration framework involving rehabilitation programmes, vocational and life-skills training, counselling support, employment expos, stakeholder engagement and post-release support.
“The Yellow Ribbon Programme does not operate solely as an inmate enrolment-based programme. Rather, it is a broad rehabilitation and reintegration framework comprising various programmes, activities, awareness initiatives, stakeholder engagements, and post-release support mechanisms,” Turaga said.
According to figures tabled in Parliament, the programme received $200,000 in funding in 2022, with $195,730.32 utilised.
In 2023, another $200,000 was allocated, of which $185,917.61 was spent.
For 2024, the programme again received $200,000 and utilised $197,242.74.
During the 2025-2026 financial year, the allocation increased to $225,000, with $222,776.43 already utilised.
Turaga said participation in the programme included inmates undertaking pre-release rehabilitation programmes, counselling sessions, vocational and life-skills training, family engagement initiatives and reintegration preparation activities.
“Enrolment into the Yellow Ribbon Programme includes inmates participating in pre-release rehabilitation programmes, counselling sessions, vocational and life skills training, family engagement programmes, and reintegration preparation activities conducted by the Fiji Corrections Service and its stakeholders,” he said.
The Minister said the Fiji Corrections Service recognised that successful rehabilitation required a whole-of-society approach.
“The Yellow Ribbon Programme continues to focus not only on reducing recidivism, but also on restoring dignity, promoting accountability, and providing former inmates with meaningful opportunities to become productive members of society,” Turaga said.
