102 prisoners move to new $1.4m facility [1]
Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 18:07. Updated on Saturday, May 17, 2014 - 18:26.
THE opening of two new and safer prison facilities at Tonga's main Hu'atolitoli Prison at Vaini today, August 25 could not have been more timely, after prison escapes reached record high with 33 in the last seven months.
The relocation saw 102 out of 109 males prisoners moved from the old and dilapidated prison houses into two new cement prison blocks surrounded by a high cement wall completed with spotlight.
The prison was built with $1.4 million pa'anga development aid from China.
The Superintendent of Prisons Sione Falemanu said the two prison blocks could accommodate 50 in the first compound and 52 in the second.
He said the remaining nine male prisoners would be kept at the old prison houses, and they were at the lowest risk of escaping. In addition the 10 women prisoners also would remain locked up at their existing prison huts in the old section.
To mark the opening of the new prison facility, a small prayer ceremony attended by prison guards, families and a few prisoners was held inside prison block number one. Shortly afterwards the Acting Chief Justice Robert Shuster turned up on a surprise visit.
He toured both prison blocks and inquired about whether security cameras were installed. The Superintendent confirmed there were none and Shuster suggested this might be something that might be assisted.
Secure
The Superintendent who was happy with the relocation noted that the two new prison blocks are modern, hygienic and very secure. The facility would immensely help his guards with their work, a contrast to the old prison huts where prisoners easily escaped.
The first prison block is 42.8mt long and 16.5mt wide contains 25 cells accommodating two prisoners in each completed with toilets with a common shower room.
In addition is a duty room for the guards, a common room and a hall located in the middle of the facility for prisoners to interact with each other.
The second block is half the size of the main building with 41mt long and 9mt wide contains 26 cells also completed with individual toilets and bathroom facilities.
Sione added a second phase of the reconstruction would include a guardhouse, maximum-security prison and a mess room for prisoners.
The Minister of Police and Prisons Hon Dr Viliami Tangi inspected the compound last week.