Lakiemata jail opens K2.5m prison block to house low-risk inmates

A NEW prison block costing K2.5 million to accommodate 48 low-risk prisoners opened at the Lakiemata jail in West New Britain on Friday.
The 48-bed minimum security unit would now see separate blocks for high and low-risk inmate.
The new block has two dormitories, a sick bay, two ablution blocks, a mess, guard house, tower and sitting area outside.
Correctional Services Minister Roy Biyama said the separation of the prisoners would now allow the prison management to concentrate on the prisoners’ rehabilitation programmes in agriculture and community services.
“The facility will now change the way we manage detainees under security assessment, they will be classified high, medium and low risks,” Biyama said.
“The law allows us to classify prisoners and it is our sole responsibility,” acting CS Commissioner Stephen Pokanis said.
“Management will sit down and start to classify them.”
Pokanis said there should be many moving into the low-risk dormitories and start working outside rather than inside.
New Guinea Island assistance commissioner Philip Eka said most of the detainees moving into the new unit qualified for parole or to take part in community services.
He said of the 350 prisoners currently, 65 to 70 per cent were low risk ones.
Meanwhile, the prison had seen several high profile breakouts over the years and separation of high risk and low risk prisoners would help CS to minimise break outs in future.