Minister visits inmates at Kerevat on Boxing Day

POLICE Minister and Gazelle MP Jelta Wong, pictured, spent Christmas in his electorate in East New Britain.
On Boxing Day, he accompanied Tropicana Ltd managing director Sandra Lau to visit 389 inmates at the Kerevat Correctional Services facility in his district.
He spoke with acting jail commander Supt Magareth Garap and her senior team regarding the ailing infrastructure at the institution.
Wong has spoken to Correctional Services Minister Roy Biyama and they hope to return to the jail in a few weeks to inspect areas for upgrading and maintenance work.
The announcement by Garap on TVET programmes to be introduced in the new year at the institution was welcomed by Wong.
He reminded inmates that it had taken a lot of time and effort by stakeholders in government to ensure such programme were in place to assist in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
He said a resource centre was one of his projects and would be done in partnership with Lau and the CS Ministry.
Wong urged inmates to learn as much as they could to be able to work to support their families.
“We are not here to feel sorry for you but to empower you for a change and you need to help yourself first because if you do not help yourself, how will we help you?”
“This is your second chance to help yourself become good citizens in life.”
“I believe you can change your lives.”
Wong agreed with Lau that Christmas was being commercialised and that it was not about receiving gifts but being content and sharing with others.