The first step towards establishing a prison facility in Enga was executed this afternoon with the signing of a contract between six local contractors and the Correctional Services.
The signing is the first of three phases in the construction of the Mukurumanda Jail to detain prisoners in Enga.
Currently, the province has no prison and all prisoners in Enga are detained at Baisu Jail in Western Highlands.
Work on the facility will commence this month.
The contract signing was witnessed by five local contractors and the Assistant Correctional Service Commissioner for Highlands Region.
The desired prison facility is designed to hold up to two hundred detainees and will be a model prison for all other provinces in Papua New Guinea.
The idea to establish a prison facility was first introduced in 1998. But due to land dispute and limited funding, it was delayed for the next 18 years.
In May 2016, Justice Ambeng Kandakasi issued a national court order to build a prison facility in Enga before 2017.
The order came after Enga prisoners raised concerns on the lack of visitation they get from their families because of the travel distance between Enga and Western Highlands.
Following the signing, the facility should be completed by 2017 as ordered by the courts.
Any delay in the completion of the project would mean contempt of court.
