Sierra Leone Prisons observed 100 years of success
The Sierra Leone Prisons commenced its 100 year anniversary celebration of success, struggles and achievements on Thursday 6th March 2014 at the Prisons Canteen situated along Pike Street, Freetown.
Delivering his opening statement, the Director of Prisons Mr. Sanpha Bilo Kamara told members of the press that, the Pademba Road Maximum Prisons was established 14th March 1914.
Mr. Kamara further intimated that, instituting discipline in the prisons is one among his duties and assured all that, Prison workers are always punctual at work and all of them are regimental.
He pointed out that, they have trained 15 cadet officers from Kaduna state in Nigeria and they are presently working together.
The Prison Director dilated that, his administration concerns more about the welfare of his junior officers for the fact that, they are the people who do the dirty work.
As a way of acknowledging the effort of his staff, Mr. Kamara said he has created a gender equality office more especially to create space for female workers, adding that a hair dressing salon has been erected in the Prison compound for the female Prisoners who specialized in the profession to do their work and earn themselves a descent living .
‘’It is unhealthy for the female and male inmates to share identical compounds‘’ said the Director of Prisons. He appealed and mentioned that, they are presently constructing walls that would differentiate between the male and female Prisons compound adding that, they have also built a library in the Pademba Road maximum prison for the inmates to keep themselves busy and also for researchers who want to find out something of importance to have access. He also emphasized the great strides DONBOSCO Fambul is doing to improve the welfare of prisoners.
The Prison Director re-echoed that, while civilians are enjoying their good sleep they as a security wing are always working tirelessly to ensure peace and stability in the country not only within the Prison but for the country as a whole.
The Director also maintained that, there are presently 1,605 inmates housed at Pademba Road Maximum Prison, among them included 76 female inmates who were brought out of Prison on that morning at the Freetown female prison detention. Concluding, Mr. Kamara urged the general public to join hands and help celebrate these achievements with them.
The Chairman of the centenary celebration Mr. Dennis Harman said due to the centenary celebration, there are programs set aside for the occasion.
Outlining programs set aside for the occasion, the Chairman of the 100 years celebration reiterated that , on 7th of March there will be a Muslim service at 12:30 followed by a football match between prisons and fire force personnel at 3.3o pm . On the 9th of March there will be a Christian service at Bethel WAM Church, Circular Road, on the 10th there will be football match among the inmates and the grand final will take place on the 12th March 2014.
The final celebration will be on Thursday 13th March 2014 with parade ceremony and it will be graced by the president of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. There is also going to be an international press conference between Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, and Gambia, in Freetown Sierra Leone.
Immediately after these occasions, Mr. Dennis Harman said, the president will do the official opening of the Sierra Leone Prison exhibition at the Miatta Conference Compound. The products of the workers and inmates will be showcased from the 13th to the 16th of March 2014.
By Princess Pierce
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Charles
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Sadly we are celebrating the Prison but is it not bizarre to celebrate a place of correction and punishment – sadomasochism.Are we involved Self Flagellation by celebrating an otherwise sober institution. Why cant we say in our democracy – our prisons are empty our aged are not in want and our streets are empty of beggars – that is our reason to celebrate. There have been several miscarriages of justice in our independent history that we should not celebrate but plan to bring justice to all and teach the young to defend the rule of law. Pademba Road has been the institution kept in a deplorable state the last place of many political opponents, whom for unjust reason lost their lives. That institution is the threat that stifles opposition and manacles free speech. Let us make our prisons a home of reform and human development rather than a house of punishment because of the victorian and dank conditions. I am sure those who are parading would not wish any of their relations to spend a night in the institution. I would say open the doors for the public to inspect sanitation and living conditions of its inmates, then celebrate.
11th March 2014