Vanuatu has opened a new correctional centre in Port Vila for female prisoners.
The new centre is located at Stade Area in Port Vila next to the low risk men’s correctional centre.
Vanuatu’s Minister for Justice and Community Services, Esmon Simon, says the new correctional facility has room to house 16 female inmates. It also has a large space behind it which is a sports ground for the inmates.
The new women’s correctional center was funded by the Australian and New Zealand Governments.
The opening was witnessed by Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister, Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau, Vanuatu’s Minister for Justice and Community Services, Esmon Simon, Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Sarah de Zoetan and New Zealand High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Jonathan Schwass.
The facility was opened last week.
There are currently four correctional centres in Vanuatu. In Port Vila there are three centres dealing with higher security and remand detainees, low risk detainees and females.
“In 2017, the Vanuatu Government opened a new correctional facility in Santo,” Minister Simon said.
The Luganville Correctional Centre caters for all types of detainees.