Budget restricts jail food: Waipo

By Rebecca Kuku
THE Correctional Services budget does not allow for nutritious meals to be provided for detainees, Commission Michael Waipo says.
Waipo made this statement after Justice David Cannings ruled that the Bomana jail outside Port Moresby had breached the rights of detainees by failing to provide food that complied with minimum nutritional requirements.
Waipo said that the decision by Justice Canning for them to improve rations and include other nutritious meals for detainees was within the CS legislation but they did not have the funding to execute it.
“The special case on this matter brought by a detainee at Bomana Correctional Institution before Justice Canning is within the meals schedule for detainees under the Correctional Service Act of 1995.
“However, on this matter, the commanding officer and his officers are not at fault by not providing the minimum nutritious meals under schedule to the detainees.
“They are complying and implementing the law within the limited budget given for rations,” he said.
Waipo said that whatever was paid for within the budget was provided to the detainees.
“The budget for rations determines the kind of basic food that the department pays for, for the detainees.”