Outgoing Correctional Services Commissioner Bernard Nepo has welcomed the appointment of his successor, Noel Sarei, while defending his nearly two-year leadership record.
He said he with the support of the staff and management has delivered unprecedented stability across Papua New Guinea’s prison system and virtually eliminated mass prison escapes.
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Speaking during the leadership handover on Tuesday, Mr. Nepo said he fully accepted the National Executive Council’s decision to appoint a new commissioner and pledged his support to Mr. Sarei in the interest of the country and the Correctional Services organization.
“I accept the decision of the government and respect the appointing authority, which is the NEC,” Mr. Nepo said.
“I welcome the new commissioner. I want to work under him and provide support so that we can continue to progress the Correctional Services Department for the greater good of this country.”
Mr. Nepo dismissed any suggestion of challenging the appointment through the courts, saying such action would only disrupt ongoing reforms and development projects within the organization.
“What’s the point in running to court when I’m still a public servant? There is no good reason as I respect the appointing authority, which is the NEC,” he said.
“Unnecessary court actions would derail the greater good of the government entity which we are supposed to serve faithfully.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Mr. Nepo said one of his key priorities was improving the welfare of correctional officers and their families, a strategy he believes directly contributed to a dramatic reduction in prison escapes nationwide.
“My focus has always been on the welfare of our officers and their families. When they are happy and enjoying life, then I should be happy,” he said.
“As a result, there were no mass escapes. We made history. Many times, in the past we were on the front pages for the wrong reasons because of prison escapes here and there. During my time, we said no to that.”
Mr. Nepo said addressing staff welfare and institutional challenges helped minimize security incidents and strengthened discipline across correctional facilities.
“When we took care of staff issues and business issues, all those problems were minimized,” he said.
He added that he was leaving the organization in a stronger position than when he assumed office and expressed confidence in Mr. Sarei’s leadership.
“I am leaving the organization in a good condition. Noel Sarei has now been appointed, and I will support him fully so we can continue doing our best in the interest of the country.”
Mr. Nepo also highlighted efforts to address longstanding infrastructure challenges through strategic partnerships with provincial governments and international development partners.
He said Correctional Services pursued a partnership model with provincial administrations to share the cost of rehabilitating and upgrading ageing prison infrastructure across the country.
“Our resources were limited, so we ventured into partnerships at the domestic level,” he said.
“Several provinces have come on board and through these agreements we have been able to address some of the legacy infrastructure issues left over from many years ago.”
At the international level, Mr. Nepo said support from Australia and the United States would help fund major prison infrastructure projects scheduled to commence next year.
He said planned developments would focus on key correctional centers, including Bomana, Baisu, Buimo and Kerevat prisons.
“There is still a substantial amount of funding coming through and I am pleased to say we will see a lot of changes in these prisons,” he said.
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Mr. Nepo said he was encouraged by the support he received from correctional officers and prisoners during his tenure but believed maintaining unity within the organization was more important than pursuing personal interests.
“I was supported well by the majority of prisoners and staff members, and it could be a big mistake to run to court, which might likely stall the impact projects we have commenced,” he said.