Prisoners atthe Beimo jail in Lae Morobe province want a survey to be conducted in prisons aroundthe country to find out what is causing prisoners to escape.
David Sila, a prisoner representing more than 600 prisoners atthe Beimo jail toldthe CS commissioner, Martin Beltharza on Wednesday that lack of rehabilitation programs in prisons was one ofthe contributing factors towardsthe recent escape of forty-four prisoners on Sunday.
Sila said: “The Correctional Service must find out aboutthe needs and wants of us prisoners rther than locking us up and forget all about us”.
Sila said while Papua New Guineais concerned over its escalating crime rate, attentions should also be given to prisoner’s rehabilitation.
“Though we are regarded as criminals, we deserve to be fairly treated because most us will one day go back tothe community once we serve our time” Sila toldthe CS Commissioner.
“Prisoners that will be engaged inthese various rehabilitation and productive programs,they will be compensated with a small wage,” Beltharzar said.
Meanwhile Mr. Beltharza saidthe jailbreaktthe Madang'’s Beon Jail resulted from inside job betweenthe officers andthe prisoners.
He said it was impossible for the prisoners to walk offthe New Beon Jail after a major maintenance work was carrlied out onthe prison.
The commissioner said an investigation will be carrlied out intothe misconduct of his men and those found responsible will be dealt with severely.
Edwin Fidelis, National EMTV News_LAE
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zSP78Ebi8Rc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
