By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Renovations on the Boroko Police Station cells are into a second week.
NCD Health Services condemned the cells last month, and all detainees were transferred to either Waigani or Badili stations.
NCD and Central Divisional Commander, Sylvester Kalaut told EMTV News that detainees were moved to other police station cells last week.
“All detainees have been moved to Waigani and Badili police station cells, the ones with serious cases are detained at Waigani and the ones with summary facts are at Badili,” Kalaut said.
This is the first time in a long time in which the cells blocks have been renovated in such magnitude.
So far all debris has been removed and the maintenance team is working on replacing the broken brick walls, fixing water leakages and repainting the blocks.
It will take six more weeks for the walls to be completed before the cells can be used again.
“I have spoken with the contractor and have they have informed me that the cells blocks will be ready for use in six weeks’ time,” Kalaut said.
The Boroko cellblocks hold up to 200 detainees in a day, but because four of the nine cell blocks that hold male detainees were closed, due to escape attempts, only five were used for over six months.
