Two new and safer prison blocks are being constructed at a cost of over $1 million pa'anga at Tonga's main Hu'atolitoli Prison, Vaini, Tongatapu, and over 100 prisoners are expected to be moved there in June.

The two prison blocks are located inside a surrounding high wall and will become the new home of male prisoners from June 1, according to the Superintendent of Prisons Sione Falemanu.

The Superintendent welcomes the new compounds saying it will be safer, cleaner and more hygienic compared to the existing old wooden huts situated inside a barbed wire fence.

"We are getting overcrowded with 114 prisoners, so this new prison is very much needed now, and at the same time will improve the condition of living for prisoners and met the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for Treatment of Prisons, which we are bound to," he said.

High Wall

The two-blocks compound made of cement has been constructed along with a high cement wall along side the old barbed wire fence prison.

The first facility that is 42.8m x 16.5m contains 25 cells accommodating two prisoners in each, with toilets. There is also 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 facility is half the size of the main building with 41m x long and 9m wide contains 26 cells also completed with individual toilets and bathroom facilities.

There are currently 114 prisoners serving time for various offences at Hu'atolitoli Prison, including seven women detainees.

The Superintendent confirmed that only the male prisoners would be located to the new prison compounds, the women prisoners would remain in their wooden huts.

He added it is their plan that a second phase of the reconstruction would include a guardhouse, maximum-security prison and a mess room for prisoners.