Kerevat jail for major upgrade

 By FRANKIY KAPIN

MAJOR upgrading and maintenance work will soon be carried out at the Kerevat jail in East New Britain.

Correctional Services Minister Jim Simatab last week presented K700,000 to a local contractor to begin upgrading the prison’s water, sewerage and other facilities. 

The minister’s visit to Kerevat, which is the Islands region’s major prison, was part of his nationwide tour of correctional service institutions.

Simitab said the aim of his visit was to address three main areas highlighted by government’s implementation drive.

He said this included the prison industries programme aimed to be rolled out next year, initiating of community correctional centres to cut down on costs and overcrowding, and to fully assess and address inmates and staffing issues. 

Simatab said their low recurrent development budget of K2 million should not be seen as a setback. 

He told inmates that the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, including the government, was vital to rehabilitee and train detainees as agents of change and  to lead a good life after they served their prison terms.

“Your time at the Kerevat is not to be punished but rehabilated, to become agents of change,” Simatab said.

He praised the East New Britain provincial government, including former governor and now Deputy Prime Minster Leo Dion, for their contributions to maintaining the Kerevat jail. 

The minister was accompanied by Correctional Services Commissioner Martin Balthazar, assistant commissioner Islands region Philip Eka and director facilities and assets Daniel August. 

The delegation was welcomed to the province by deputy governor Bonifas Setavo, senior provincial magistrate Sam Lavutul, provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jnr and Kerevat jail commander acting Chief Supt Kiddy Keko.