Simitab urges all to respect laws

 By GABRIEL FITO

ALL Papua New Guineans have been urged to respect the law as the government continues to legislate tougher penalties for law-breakers.

Correctional Service Minister Jim Simitab said everyone had the responsibility to warn young people to stay out of trouble because the Government “has no time for nonsense”.

Simitab, the Wewak MP, was speaking at Boram jail in Wewak during a parade hosted by the warders to welcome him and Correctional Service Commissioner Martin Balthazar on his first official visit last Thursday.

“If we do not respect the law, it means that we are still not civilised,” he said.

“There will be no peace in our homes, communities and government institutions like jails.”

He warned prisoners against risking their lives by escaping “because you may either be shot dead or have your jail terms increased”.

“I am quite happy with Boram because in the last 20 years we have not experienced any major jail break-outs. This implies that the prisoners are respecting the rule of law,” Simitab said.

He said the Government planned to build a prison on Manus Island to keep those sentenced to life imprisonment and those on death row.

“Crimes such as rape and murder should be strongly discouraged because anyone who commits these crimes will face execution,” Simitab said.

In East Sepik, a K5 million 100-bed rural lock-up initiated by former CS Minister Tony Aimo at Ambunti is nearing completion.

Maprik MP John Simon is also moving to build an alternate prison for the province at Maprik. 

Simatab and Balthazar visited the proposed site at Roma village on Saturday.

Balthazar said 50 hectares of land has been allocated and the department was keen to build a 300-bed prison facility.