Prison overcrowding poses health threat

By JIMMY KALEBE
THE Buimo jail in Morobe is looking at transferring inmates to other prisons due to overcrowding and threats of illnesses and diseases, says jail commander Chief Supt Judy Tara.
“The situation with overcrowding is still here and the cell blocks can only hold up to 600 inmates at any one time,” she said.
“The overcrowding is also posing huge threats of outbreak of disease.”
Tara said over a month ago Buimo had more than 1,000 detainees but due to 90 being transferred out to other lockups, they were left with 950.
Despite this first batch being transferred out of Buimo, there were still possibilities of transferring more of them elsewhere.
The detainees were transferred to Baisu in Western Highlands, Buiyebi prison in Mendi, Southern Highlands, and recently some were transferred to Beyon in Madang.
“We are looking at possible transfer of more detainees, some to Bundaira in Kainantu, Eastern Highlands and Biru in Northern,” Tara said.
She said she was looking at transferring some locals to the Finschhafen rural lockup.
Tara said Buimo spent more than K180,000 a month to feed the inmates.
She appealed to families and friends who visited inmates to provide good food so inmates remained healthy.
She said there had been instances when relatives visited detainees they supplied contraband items.
“I appeal to them to stop this as every one of us has a duty to help to ensure that the detainees, when finishing their terms in custody, become good citizens when they return to their communities,” Tara said.
She also appealed to the 10 MPs in Morobe, local business houses and individuals to assist in ways they could to support the detainees.
Buimo is running rehabilitation programmes for prisoners.