Prisoners who are members of the Ola Toefuataina and Olomanu programmes joined forces yesterday for their annual Culture Day at the compound of the Tafa’igata Prison.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Pulega Lelei” (Good governance).
The prisoners were separated into four groups, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
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Acting Assistant Commissioner of Prisons, Tunaimatia Fa’aesea Lautala said the programme is an annual event.
It started five years ago, in a bid to use the culture as a tool to initiate positive and much-needed change.
“Samoa is the only country that has no walls to protect prisoners (from running away),” he said. “However our culture and customs are the only hope we have of maintaining the good relationships we have, the respect between people and also the relationships within the prison.”
Inside prison for example, prisoners show exceptional leadership skills are appointed chiefs.
“Their role is to help the police officers in their daily duties,” he said.
“This will help us a lot in caring for the prisoners.”
Tuanaimatia said there are now more than 500 prisoners at Tafaigata and the number of Police officers is not enough to cover them all.
“So for us, it’s all about working together, side by side, to make everything easier.”
The Acting Commissioner said there was no budget for yesterday’s event but is something prisoners look forward to every year.
“The idea is to promote our culture as a way to start to change them while they are in prison.”
Tuanaimatia said the money from the prisoners’ plantation was used to fund most of yesterday’s activities.
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