Prison no longer an unsafe place

RECENT articles about our prisoners learning new skills and being baptised are inspiring.
These enrichment programmes are not only for the good of the prisoners, but society in general when they are released.
In the past, prison camps were regarded as dangerous and risky places to be.
They were places where the rejected community can be found.
The stories about prison camps came mostly from those who have served time.
In the late 1970s, when I was about five or six years old, a prisoner from Bona Kalingu-Gembogl district, Simbu province, escaped from a prison and was hanging around the village.
He was big and strong and he would turn up at the mission stations at Goglme to do his shopping and then disappear.
One day, the bigger boys whom I was hanging out with, bought this man, whose name I later learned was John, some cigarettes and asked him to tell us stories about himself.
At that age, I was not able to grasp what was going on but I can still remember how he escaped from prison.
He said he got into the main septic pipe system and made his way along the pipe until he reached the sea where he swam to freedom.
Why I was able to remember that part was because he said while struggling to freedom, human waste was flushed down into the pipe and he said there was no way to avoid anything but just grit his teeth and moved on.
That scenario created a dark picture in me that prisons are places where bad people are sent to suffer all kinds of harsh and inhuman treatments.
I also had the impression that there must be very tough and angry people in charge of prison camps.
However, through time and progress, prison camps had evolved.
Prisoners are now changed from inside out.
Today, if you visit the prison camps around the country, in particular Bomana, you will be surprised to learn that the detention cell or basement cell is empty.
Everyone is busily engaged in something to keep them occupied. I liken prison camps to schools today.
Prisoners are taught and given counselling and guidance by our committed CS officers.
There is a graduation for every successful prisoner at the end of the term.
And that is one of the biggest achievements ever achieved by our Correctional institutions throughout the country.
I recalled one morning after the inmates had finished their morning devotion to God and after the roll-call before dismissing the parade, the duty officer reminded all inmates with simple but touching words: “Remember, I am a warder and you are a prisoner but we are both human beings.”
Keep up the good work.

John Bomai
Port Moresby