Centre continues to train inmates despite no support

The National National
Fr Robert Nolie (second, left), prisoners Mondro Umbialu and John Rapura standing with the management of Gate Way Motors and members of the Baisu jail at Gate Way Motors in Mt Hagen during the prisons practical hour recently.

DESPITE receiving no subsidies or support from the Government, the Baisu Technical Vocational Education Training (Tvet) centre in Western Highlands continues to train inmates.
This was the faith and confidence of Fr Robert Nolie who set up the centre with the aim of rehabilitating prisoners.
The centre was established inside the prison camp to train prisoners so when they return home, they can use the skills to live a changed life.
Fr Nolie said last month, the centre sent two prisoners to do their practical with the Gate Way Motors in Mt Hagen.
He said prisoners John Rapura, from Western Highlands, and Mondro Umbialu, from Hela, were both serving their term on murder charges. “Despite of us receiving no funding and assistance from the Government, the Correctional Services or the provincial governments from Western Highlands, Hela, Enga and Southern Highlands, the centre maintains its operation because it has a vision to make a change in the lives of the prisoners.”
Fr Nolie said nowadays, people were crying and complaining about the breakdown in law and order throughout the country.
He said once when they were equipped and trained, that could cause them to change from their past. “It is no good wasting so much money addressing law and order with less impacts, instead support the prisons rehabilitation programs because they will make a lot of differences.”