CS officers back call by Sikani

CORRECTIONAL Service (CS) officers in Southern Highlands province have supported the call by CS Commissioner Richard Sikani, that the aging workforce, limited funding and manpower were affecting their work throughout the country.
CS officers from the Bui-ebi prison in Mendi said these were the problems in many jails throughout the country.
A senior officer, who requested anonymity, said yesterday from Mendi that the recent jail breakout of 21 prisoners at the prison was partly due to the shortage of manpower and the aging workforce.
He said during the breakout, three security guards had attempted to stop the prisoners from escaping but they were too old and unfit to stop the prisoners from escaping.
He said many of the escapees were aged between 25 and 35, and this made it hard for the aging officers to stop them.
The officer said the last recruitment was done 15 years ago and since then, there had been no new recruits.
He said currently, the Bui-ebi jail has 26 officers to look after more than 100 prisoners.
An officer said it was a major problem, that concerned authorities needed to look into to address and prevent any future breakout from jails throughout the country.
He said the Government was currently on a recruitment drive to get young officers to look after the jails.
He said jail breakouts had become common and if the problems were not addressed more jail breaks could happen.