http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20071211/tuhome.htmBougainville will finally get a jail following talks between Correctional Services and the ABG.
Bougainville gets new jail
A consultation process with the PNG Correctional Service (PNGCS) and the Autonomous Bougainville Gove-rnment (ABG) has finally resulted in a firm decision to build a permanent jail on the island.
CS Commissioner Richard Sikani and Acting Administrator of the Autonomous Region of Buka Raymond Masono signed a memorandum of understanding enabling work to begin next year.
?This event marks a significant day for CS since the crises in Bougainville. Since 2001 I have been trying to re-establish a correctional institution there. We have looked at many sites and now after many troubles, we have the certificate of occupancy,? said Mr Sikani.
For the sector and especially the CS, the completion of the jail completes the cycle of a fully fledged sector and sets long term goals for the ABG.
Mr Sikani said the jail to be built at Beikut on the west coast of Buka Island will be under the auspices of CS headquarters until laws and other enabling arrangements are in place.
?It will be run from Port Moresby and we will progress the building of the prison. We will be trying to do our best,? Mr Sikani said.
Construction on the K6 million prison will start next year and is due at the end of 2009, although prisoners are expected to be transferred there at the end of 2008.
For training, Commissioner Sikani added his team would be at the helm of this, as well as help with the transfer of personnel to the jail.
Mr Masono applauded the signing and said the facility?s completion will complement on-going work on law and order in the island.
Mr Masono commended the relationship the ABG had established with the CS, especially dealing with a lot of administrative and land issues.
?Building this facility is very important to the ABG in our efforts to restore basic functions and services in Bougainville.
?We will now proceed to complete this institution as soon as possible to address the serious human rights issue, especially the overcrowding in the Buka police cells.
?This agreement gives us the opportunity to address the problem jointly with CS and the ABG is happy to sign this agreement,? Mr Masono said.
He added that the ABG?s priority is to build capacity in many areas until such time as the ABG had the laws to assume the function.
Mr Masono added that the ABG?s priority is completing the facility and operating it properly, an objective he is confident his administration will assist in fasttracking.
The new prison also lays the foundation for sector agencies on the island to catapult their performance further.
This was evident in the sector activities that have since gained momentum on the island.
Senior community based corrections officer Martin Tsivua is adamant that the new jail will enable him to expedite community corrections activities.
Mr Tsivua said that work had been slow, because of the lack of a jail and once completed this will boost its work.
?It will improve our workload. This is a key area which has slowed our progress. Hopefully we can strengthen our work with the prisons,? said Mr Tsivua. He said that despite the status quo, prison officers had been working closely with his office. And, that Mr Tsivua explains, is crucial to the new activities planned for his office.
The new prison will mean that;
* Human rights issues, especially the overcrowding of the Buka police cells will be addressed;
* The ABG law and justice sector will have all agencies functioning;
* Improved sector co-ordination;
* Detainees will have a safe and secure containment;
* Greater emphasis on capacity building; and
* Improved dialogue with sector agencies, stakeholders and non- governmental organisations.
Chris Siriosi, ABG?s head of law and justice paid tribute to those that were behind the signing of the MoU.
Mr Siriosi added that a lot of work, especially consultations had taken place, and this was not easy for the CS hierarchy and the ABG. ?It is a great event and one that we all have been looking forward to. It now completes the full positioning of all our sector agencies.
?This will also prompt us to implement many of our sector activities, including the CS,? said Mr Siriosi. He also paid tribute to the government and people of Australia through AusAID who have been committed to the establishment.
The ABG has arranged a long term lease of the land from the local people.
A certificate of occupancy was issued in October and that, essentially paves the way for work to start.
The project will be funded jointly by the National Government and AusAID.
Law and Justice Sector activities on the island have been improving as a result of the sector's efforts there.
Notable achievements by the NGOs, churches, and community based groups have rapidly complement the sector?s overall activities.
The completion of the jail is poised to lift the performance as well as allow the CS to feature as a key member of the sector.
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