Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Naboro prison

Why Do They Escape?

Around 27 years ago when I was living in Nadera, I met a young man who had been released from prison. While having a yarn he said that he liked to escape  from prison because it gave him a high. He had been to jail so many times that he had lost count.

Then he said that escaping from prison was like an adventure, he had to scale the prison walls and then when in town he had to disguise himself, and each time he would go pass a police officer he would look away and pretend to do something. He said that the best part was when the search party was closing on him, he would treat it as a thrilling adventure until he was caught and given a smack on the wrist.

Recently there have been a number of prison breaks and one would ask why do the prisoners choose to escape? Are they like the young man that I describe above? Does it give them a thrill to escape and be hunted like an animal? I would really like to know why they escape because it only increases their prison time and of course they get a beating.

Could someone interview the escapees and ask them why they choose to escape? Is it to visit family, or attended a party or whatever?  Or are they fed up of prison life?

The Prison Department could interview the escapees and publish the report.

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.