Waipo vows to fix jails

 By MALUM NALU 
Correctional Services commissioner Michael Waipo signed his four-year contract yesterday and made a commitment to improve prison standards in the country.
Waipo signed his contract at the Government House in the presence of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio and Personnel Management Department secretary John Kali.
He said he was appointed in September 2014 but the formalities did not take place until yesterday.
“I am thankful to the secretary for the Department of Personnel Management and his officers for being able to pull it together for me,” Waipo said.
“Signing (the contract) is one bit but delivery of services as a leader is a big challenge.
“I’m forming a team from the Correctional Services to deliver services to the people of Papua New Guinea.”
Waipo said one of his projects included a new jail for Hela which he would work on with provincial administrator William Bando.
“I thank the Government for the confidence they have in me and also for the department responsible,” Waipo said.
Kali said Waipo and Bando must deliver on the new prison in Hela as they would be held accountable.
“For the first time, they will be getting a pay rise. Now we have performance bonuses, so if they perform, they get an incremental rise in their salary,” he said.