CS to address housing issues

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
THE Correctional Service department plans to address issues on accommodation for female inmates at the Boram prison in East Sepik.
Assistant Commissioner for Northern and Southern regions Henry Wavik was commenting on concerns that female prisoners at Boram in Wewak were using staff accommodation.
“In Boram the women’s facility was burnt down late last year and we have not built a new facility for the women. They are now in one of the staff accommodations which we (renovated) into a cell.”
Wavik said the accommodation could only cater for six inmates but there were 12 inside.
He said prison accommodation was a nationwide issue which required attention.
Wavik said Boram prison was one of two prisons in Mamose facing accommodation issues.
“Particularly in Lae and Vanimo, we do not have any extra space to accommodate more prisoners,” he said.
Wavik said in Lae, they had beds for 600 prisoners but the population was now more than 1000.
“In Vanimo, we have 60 beds but the population of prisoners has increased to over 100,” he said.