Policies and regulations are put in place for a very important reason – to discipline and control.
This is the response from the Acting Police Commissioner, Fauono Talalelei Tapu, to a complaint from a member of the community who says his nephew, who is a prisoner at Tafa’igata, should be allowed to go home for the weekends.
Malavai Ainu’u, 35, claims his 15-year-old nephew, Sam, has been away from home too long.
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He couldn’t confirm the reason why Sam was sent to prison but claims he has been there for seven months now.
“It could be for marijuana or breaking and entering,” Mr. Ainu’u said. “He used to come home for the weekends but for the past two Sundays, he hasn’t been permitted to.”
So he is questioning the Police as to why some prisoners are allowed out on the weekends while others are not.
Mr. Ainu’u is angry that after speaking to the head of the Tafa’igata prison, he was promised Sam would be out last weekend.
“Then the other prisoners came home but not my nephew.”
Mr. Ainu’u also confirmed that he was told Sam had breached some policies at the prison.
“I was told that he disobeyed some rules pertaining to the choir which he is a member of.”
“But how long is a punishment? I am sure the first Sunday he wasn’t allowed home was enough to pay for his breaking the rules.”
Mr. Ainuu also believes that “his disobedience with the choir rules should be laid aside because I want to see my nephew”.
But Fauono disagrees.
“If he [Sam] has breached one of the guidelines this must be the reason.”
He pointed out that Tafa’igata Prison now has its own Commissioner who oversees everything that happens there.
“I understand that they have their rules and regulations that are there as guidelines to ensure that prisoners obey them.”
He said if this is what is happening to Mr. Ainu’u’s nephew then perhaps it is due to his breaching one of these guidelines.
Fauono added that these guidelines are there to ensure prisoners are disciplined.
Further, Fauono said “he has broken the law and that is why he is in there. If he didn’t break the law, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Now he is in there, and he’s broken the law again with regards to his being there.”
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