By REUBEN KALAUNG
EQUIPMENT and necessary machineries were currently being gathered for the second phase refurbishment of the Buimo correctional institute in Lae, Morobe province.
Correctional Services (CS) Minister Tony Aimo and Commissioner Richard Sikani jointly announced this last Tuesday in Port Moresby.
Mr Sikani said a K95,000 cheque was presented to the construction company Lae Builders and Contractors Ltd last Monday to carry out a full refurbishment to staff housing at the institute.
The refurbishment would also see maintenance done to staff houses, water and sewerage systems.
The funding was made available from the first windfall of K40 million under the law and justice sector programme (LJSP).
A total of K4 million had been spent on maintaining staff houses.
Another K7 to K8 million was expected to be directed into this area.
The Buimo institute was forced to close down in 2003 following a court order when the Health Department condemned the facility declaring it was unfit for human habitation.
Meantime, Mr Aimo and Mr Sikani had called on Morobe’s Tutumang provincial administration to honour its commitment to help CS in maintaining the Buimo facility.
Mr Sikani said Governor Luther Wenge made a commitment in 2003 to assist with a funding of K500,000 every year over the four-year period.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between CS and the landowners of the proposed site in Manus had been sent over to Manus to facilitate a proper acquisition of land for the Lorengau institute.
The site at Ndrasaukei was proposed after a visit by Mr Aimo and his delegation last week.
Discussions for the Solos land for the Buka prison were also underway.
Mr Sikani pointed out that the CS would be opting for outright purchase of land rather than a leasing agreement.
He said a leasing agreement is for business ventures and would hinder CS to build new facilities and one can be asked to move out when the agreement had expired.
Mr Aimo also announced a K80 million funding had been handed down in the supplementary budget under the LJSP. The allocation for CS will be geared towards the re-opening and upgrading of closed rural lock-ups.