Enga finally gets its own jail
Enga Province now has its own correctional facility, a public service the province has long lacked.
The Mukurumanda Correctional Facility was officially opened on Monday, October 12, by Prime Minister James Marape, who is also the Minister for Correctional Services.
The opening means offenders from Enga can now be held within their home province, allowing family members to visit them without travelling to Western Highlands Province. It will also ease the burden on Baisu Correctional Institution, which previously accommodated prisoners from Enga.
The opening ceremony began with a parade by Correctional Service officers, followed by a guard of honour for Correctional Service Commissioner Noel Sarei, Prime Minister James Marape and Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sir Peter said that when he became governor of Enga, he was determined to complete the legacy of the province's founding leaders by ensuring that important institutions they had initiated were completed and operational.
He said the Mukurumanda Correctional Facility was one such legacy project, originally envisioned by the late Sir Pato Kakaraya in 1987, with construction beginning in 1998.
“For thirty years, I've been carrying papers of projects and walking from one office to another in Waigani, not through any subordinate but by myself to develop Enga Province, and the Mukurumanda CIS facility is one of them,” Sir Peter said.
He said the responsibility for establishing national institutions should rest with the National Government and the relevant government agencies.
“It is not the provincial government's job but the Correctional Service and the National Government's job to look into provinces and take ownership of national functions and national institutions,” Sir Peter said.
In response to the governor's remarks, Prime Minister James Marape acknowledged that the Government had failed the people of Enga by allowing the project to remain incomplete for so many years.
Mr Marape also spoke about further funding to be considered towards completing the Mukurumanda Correctional Facility.
He also said outstanding landowner payments would be looked into to help ensure the facility could operate fully without disruption.
The opening of the Mukurumanda Correctional Facility followed the combined efforts of Correctional Services, the National Government and the Enga Provincial Government.
Following the official opening, Mr Marape toured the facility and visited the inmates.
The facility is already housing prisoners from Enga who were previously held at Baisu Correctional Institution in Western Highlands Province.
Addressing the inmates, Mr Marape encouraged them to abide by the law and work towards rehabilitation so they could return to society.
Also present at the opening were Police Minister Sir John Pundari and Wapenamanda MP Miki Kaeok.
