Buimo jail staff demand ‘soft’ eviction

By PETER MIVA
BUIMO jail staff are demanding that the jail scale should down its operations for authorities to conduct a smooth eviction from their condemned houses starting tomorrow.
This follows a notice of intention to evict the staff by Morobe Health Advisor Dr Likei Theo after a recent health and building board inspection.
It was found the houses and sewerage systems were unfit for human-use and recommended the eviction.
The 21-day notice was issued on Oct 3 and eviction is expected to start with the deadline set for all staff and their dependents to move out by tomorrow in order for authorities to maintain and rebuild new staff houses.
A resolution passed at a meeting on Oct 13 by staff members demanded that the jail stop new or incoming inmates into the institution and stop escorting inmates to court cases.
The list of demands signed by 58 staff members had been given to the jail commander Chief Supt Samson Jaro stating, among other things, that the detainees to be released only when their warrants expired or sentences are completed.
They demand that the main gate be closed temporarily while the administration and the Correctional Services Department (CS) to process eviction of staff and their dependents.
The demands also included temporary accommodation to be provided within Lae for them to stay and continue to work.
They resolved that the staff will stop work temporarily and move out at their own expenses if the authorities do not process the smooth eviction and fail to find temporary accommodation in Lae city.
They stated in their demands that all condemned and bush material houses were to be demolished and replaced with brand new three-bedroom houses, all sewerage systems must be upgraded and connected to the main sewerage system, all water pipes and systems to be upgraded for members to have access to clean water and installation of new street lights and posts.
They demanded that the maintenance work be given to a competent contractor.
Copies of their demands had been given to the CS Commissioner Richard Sikani and Morobe administrator Manasupe Zurenuoc.