The Office of the Press Secretariat yesterday issued a statement from the Prime Minister about the Commission of Inquiry’s report into Tafaigata Prison. It is published here in verbatim:
Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Commission of Inquiry report- including all its recommendations - into conditions at Tafaigata Prison and other related issues. Said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi;
“The 75-page report lucidly outlined several management and administrative problems at the Ministry and validated unfavourable conditions, unflattering incidents and incongruous behaviour at the country’s main prison.”
Said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi; “Fortunately, the weaknesses that led to these problems have been addressed in the Police (Servant Amendment) Act that Parliament approved last year.
It essentially separated the management and administration of Prisons from general policing.
“Prisons will soon have its own chief executive and management to concentrate on the best interests and advancing the prison system when before, the Police ministry was dominated by core policing the law.”
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It recommends that the Ombudsman’s office plays a broader and more active role in the regular review and of prison conditions and regular monitoring of prisoners’ general welfare as well as initiate and develop training programmes for prison officers.
“The weaknesses identified in the report are mainly to do with the systems in respect of operations and controls.
The Commission provides recommendations that will make the prison systems much more effective in terms of rehabilitating prisoners and upgrading the skills of prison officers. In terms of infrastructure, the Commission recommends the construction of more secure holding cells and perimeter fencing.
It also recommends the establishment of an in-house medical clinic and facilities for counselling services.
The Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU), the report recommends, should immediately execute its job of investigating several outstanding cases involving Police officers that were brought to its (PSU) desk, as unearthed in the Inquiry. The report was particularly scathing in addressing the urgent need to lift the calibre and integrity level of police personnel.
The Commission as to its next phase of the Inquiry - under the Police Act - will address the issue of the capacity of the incumbent Commissioner and the ACEO - Tafaigata Prisons – to perform their functions satisfactorily as highlighted in the Inquiry’s findings.
That final report should be available within four weeks.”
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