CORRECTIONAL Service Commissioner Richard Sikani has called on the Manus provincial administration and police to work in collaboration with CS in regard to the Lorengau jail’s closure.
Mr Sikani said since 2003, CS had tried its best to talk with the provincial administration to relocate the jail but that had fallen on deaf ears.
He said it was difficult to put up a proper sewerage system at the old jail because of the concrete built during World War II.
Mr Sikani made the decision in May this year to close the jail following a National Court decision.
He said since the closure, all prisoners had been transferred to Kavieng jail in New Ireland and Kerevat in East New Britain.
Mr Sikani said the 14 staff would be transferred soon to Baisu in Mt Hagen and Bui/Iebi in the Southern Highlands after all assets had been moved out of the province.
He said it was the duty of police to deliver convicts to the prison.
However, he said he understood the Manus situation and urged the police to keep in touch with him immediately once a person was convicted by the court.
Mr Sikani denied receiving any briefing from the Manus provincial police commander on the hardship they were facing in taking care of the remandees in the police cell.
He said if he had known of that, CS was more than willing to share the costs with police in looking after the remandees.