Baisu jail without water for a month

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
THE Baisu jail in Western Highlands has been without water for almost a month due to damaged pipes, says Highland region Correctional Service assistant commissioner David Kanumbom.
He told The National that the water problem was caused by a broken trunk line at a road construction site along the four-lane road project at Mt Hagen.
The area around the jail was also without water, Kanumbom said.
The concern was expressed by a prisoner who said overcrowding of prison was another reason why they were short of water.
Inmates from Buiebi were moved to Baisu, doubling the number in the prison to morte than 400.
“We also face health risks due to the water problems, our toilets are blocked and stinking, the overcrowding easily poses risks in spreading tuberculosis,” the prison, who preferred not to be identified, said. “Seven of us have now contracted TB and all of this now require health inspectors to come in and inspect our prison facilities,” the prisoner said.
Kanumbom denied claims that water issues posed problems like toilet blockage and inmates facing health risks of tuberculosis due to overcrowding.
“We do not have much problem in Baisu, but the two main problems are the main water supply and overcrowding,” he said.
“This (broken pipes) not only affects the jail but all other government and private properties that are in the way,” he said.
Kanumbom said currently the prison was relying on fresh water supply from rain and wells.
“The issue of overcrowding is in relation to the mayhem on June 14 in Mendi, which forced us to move prisoners from Buiebi to Baisu.”
He said only 12 prisoners were left at Buiebi and they were mostly the old and sick ones.