Sierra Leone News: Waterloo Gets New Correctional Facility
By Abu Bakarr Munu
The Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services (SLCS), Joseph Laboi has said that the newly constructed pre-trial detention and simulation centre situated at Waterloo will save huge amount of money which is expended in transportation of inmates from the Capital centre to Waterloo in the outskirt of the municipality of Freetown for trials every week.
The Correctional Services boss made this assertion on Friday September 20, 2019, while delivering his speech at the ceremony marking the opening of the facility which can accommodate up to 150 inmates.
The facility was constructed with funding from the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INLEA) through the US Embassy in Freetown and the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The two-block facility when functional will save huge amount of money and those monies will now be used for other institutional reforms, Director Laboi said. He adding that, with the facility, they will not be bothered with the security implication in bringing inmates from Freetown to Waterloo for court proceedings.
He said that it would also directly contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with specific reference to Goal 16 which promotes a peaceful and inclusive society through peace, justice and strong institutions.
The director general said that the newly constructed centre will help to decongest the maximum correctional facility situated at Pademba Road, as it is no secret that that facility is not only overcrowded with inmates but overdue for relocation.
He said that the development is another ground breaking moment in the transformation of the SLCS after the enactment of the Correctional Service Act of 2014, and the Prisons Rules of 1961, a nationwide assessment was conducted which was founded by UNDP, which culminated to a project titled: “From Prisons to Correction”. He said in 2017, the project attracted funding from the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs through the US Embassy in Freetown and the UNDP to the tune of US$150,000 at the initial stage, and later US$300,000.
The US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Maria Brewa noted that, the ceremony represent another progress in the transformation of the SLCS, and that since 2016 to date, the Embassy has facilitated four delegations of Correctional Service Officers to Colorado in the United States.
Madam Brewa said the SLCS had recruited new officers and trained them in line with international standards for improve service delivery to inmates.
She said the facility will now address the issue of removing inmates from the central part of town for court proceedings in Waterloo, and that the facility will help improve the quality of life. She also emphased the importance of private public partnership and pledged the continuous support of the embassy.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Deputy Resident Representative, Madam Rokya Ye Dieng described the opening of the facility as a milestone which was as a result of hard work and fruitful collaboration and partnerships among several actors including the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) through the US Embassy, and UNDP.
She said the 30 months project ’from prison to correction’ is a perfect example of how team-work and collective efforts could make the difference when it comes to development.
She noted that the project was built on an assessment conducted by UNDP on the Sierra Leone Correctional Services (SLCS) in 2015, and correctional Service’s Strategic Plan, and is aimed at addressing the dire conditions of detention, the treatment of inmates, and the safety of staff.
“Through this project UNDP in collaboration with the SLCS have refurbished eight correctional facilities, providing them with water, improving sanitation and hygiene in Port Loko, Makeni, Mafanta, Kenema, Bo, Kambia, Kono and the just commissioned Waterloo facility,” she said.
She pointed out that, the new facility is capable of accommodating about 151 inmates which will help to reduce the over population of the Freetown facility.
