prison

village near prison

On Friday the town mayor was locked up by the police. I assumed it was connected with the fisticuffs in the office corridors the day before when councillors were discussing whether or not to hold a council meeting but it turns out it was for an alleged forged signature. His colleagues rallied round to raise the bail money to get him out so we are back to normal again.

As I go round the town tne I often take photographs of people and children – it breaks the ice and is usually welcomed then, later I may take back prints for the victims. The last one turned out to have been banged up in Beon, the local prison in the interim hence a good reason to visit the establishment. As luck would have it the day before my visit a “rascol” had been cut up in his attempt to hold up and rob a PMV (little bus) and as a result a fight had been arranged for the next day between the highlanders (who generally run the PMVs) and the Sepiks whose colleague had died. Having notice of these battles allows people to keep away, like the police or to join in but is inconvenient when your PMV route is affected. Eventually found a bus prepared to go to the prison but by a circuitous route which turned out fine if crowded given the number of people and the shortage of PMVs. At the prison, clearly a pretty smart set of half a dozen compounds built in the last one or two years – all very silvery the fencing, razor wire and tin buildings set in the rolling forested hills. My colleague, who had spent some time locked upo here a few years ago hardly recognised the place. The prisoner was pleased to have a visit, wolfed down the lettuce sandwiches I had brought for him and was delighted with some new (second hand) clothes presented by my colleague. It seems that 7 or 800 convicts and remand prisoners are held there – (for a provincial population of around 350,000). The food sounded unattractive and boring, they get plenty of exercise, mostly cutting the acres of grass with bush knives but also some football – apparently no classes or training on offer which is sad.

This weekend two competing events have been laid on in the town by different organizations promoting (without admitting it) their own candidates for the elections next year. I have an invitation to both with clear instructions to attend that organised by the previous Provincial Governor who has lost his elevated government position in the recent change of government. I have a pre-arranged meeting but will probably look into both events if only to see who is attending which.

Sunrise again....

Taxi to island