MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
RAMSI is playing a key role in prison construction and refurbishment, the
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mrs Chris Gallus said today from
Tetere Prison Farm in the Solomon Islands.
Mrs Gallus also visited the new Rove Central Prison where RAMSI has recently
completed a high security wing.
'With the assistance of the Australian aid program, Tetere Prison reopened in
early September after having been closed since 1999 because of ethnic tension,'
Mrs Gallus said.
'When fully completed by the end of the year, Tetere Prison farm will help
reduce overcrowding and will be able to hold 60 low security prisoners.'
'The new Tetere Prison is also a more culturally acceptable environment with
prisoners having agricultural work opportunities.'
'The prison farm will provide vegetables and other produce for itself and
Rove prison which will improve the financial sustainability of the prison
service.'
'Having a strong prison system is critical to the success of the Regional
Assistance Mission and already I have noticed a remarkable change in the nature
of people since I was last here in December,' Mrs Gallus said.
Australia, through RAMSI, has provided 24 advisers to the law and justice
sector.
Mrs Gallus is in Honiara as part of a ministerial visit to see first hand
RAMSI's and Australia's development assistance to Solomon Islands.
Media contact:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680
442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489
Dominic Morice (RAMSI, Honiara) (0011) 677
72160