Heart-rending experience for Miss Rabi contestant

[Stacey King]

Salaseini Vosamana Thursday, September 01, 2011

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Miss Rabi Council of Leaders Jomeri Kaupepea meets inmates at the Labasa Correctional Centre yesterday. Picture: SALASEINI VOSAMANA

THE smiles and joy soon turned to a heart-rending experience for the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North contestants during a visit to the Labasa Corrections Centre yesterday.

An emotional Miss Labasa Town Council Selai Balekoso, 21, said it was her first visit to the centre and she was deeply touched by the inmates and the environment they lived in.

"It is really difficult to witness the way they are living and to take into account their ages and the jail term they are serving," she said through her tears.

"They might be somebody's father, uncle, brother or grandfather and I just can't imagine what their families are going through without their presence since they are the breadwinners.

"I hope we will all work together to assist the rehabilitation program at the correction services."

Supervisor Northern Sakiusa Veiwili said the inmates and the staff were thrilled to host the contestants.

"We hope you will advocate more on the Yellow Ribbon Project so the inmates are given a second chance in life," he said.

"In order to change the people, we need to be determined about our motives to create change and space for inmates.

"The inmates are not criminals, instead they initially fell off track and it is our duty to treat them so they become better people."