Port Vila, Vanuatu – A high-level delegation from the Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) recently visited the Vanuatu Correctional Services in Port Vila for a week-long study tour aimed at deepening collaboration in the justice sector between the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The delegation, led by CSSI Commissioner Mactus Forau, comprised eight members including senior officials from the CSSI, the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, and representatives from the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands.
The purpose of the visit was to observe and learn from Vanuatu Correctional Services’ operational models, administrative practices, and innovative approaches that align with CSSI’s strategic goals. A key focus of the mission was the assessment of Vanuatu’s Parole and Probation systems, with the intention of identifying potential reforms and enhancements that could be adopted by CSSI as part of its ongoing efforts to improve parole and probation integration in the Solomon Islands.
This initiative underscores the importance of fostering sustainable relationships with neighbouring countries, particularly those sharing ethnic and cultural ties, in a region where formal frameworks for such collaboration remain limited.
The visit also forms part of the broader Justice Twinning Program, a bilateral initiative launch and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in 2024 between the Solomon Islands Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs and Vanuatu’s Ministry of Justice and Community Services, to strengthen regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and to share expertise in judicial practices, legal administration, land reform, and correctional services.
Upon arrival, the CSSI delegation was warmly welcomed and commenced their itinerary with an in-depth presentation by Vanuatu Correctional Services. The session provided valuable insights into Vanuatu’s organizational structure, rehabilitation and reintegration programs, parole and probation systems, and daily management of correctional centres.
On the third day, the delegation met with two former inmates who are now successful small business owners, sharing compelling stories of rehabilitation and reintegration. The team also visited community-based correctional initiatives, including programs at Onesua Presbyterian College and Takara Community in Northeast Efate, where sentenced individuals contribute through meaningful work in the community.
The delegation toured all correctional facilities in the capital, from maximum- to minimum-security units, including the female correctional centre.
A key milestone of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two correctional services. This agreement marks a significant step toward formalizing collaboration, enabling mutual support in areas such as professional development, rehabilitation strategies, parole and probation services, staff training, and good governance.
The MOU reflects a shared vision for building correctional systems that are secure, just, humane, and restorative. Both institutions have committed to working together to enhance institutional capacity and drive positive transformation within correctional environments.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat, further emphasizing the Pacific region’s broader efforts to promote inter-country learning and integration across government sectors.
CSSI Commissioner Mactus Forau and his Vanuatu counterpart expressed strong confidence that this partnership will serve as a solid foundation for future cooperation, driven by mutual respect, shared learning, and the pursuit of excellence in Correctional Services.
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