Siege brings new focus to new prison

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and members of a task force overseeing plans to build a new prison on Saipan yesterday met in fresh attempts to fast track the construction of a modern facility, a day after 14 prisoners protesting inhumane conditions seized the male detention center.

But the governor did not tie the meeting to Tuesday’s 14-hour prison standoff, saying it has been scheduled long before the hostage incident.

“This meeting has nothing to do with the incident…We want to expedite the building of the new prison facility,” Tenorio said in an interview.

Unsanitary conditions and overcrowding inside the prison have worried federal officials because of potential lawsuit from inmates, and US authorities have prodded the local government to implement improvements that would meet at least the minimum federal requirements.

The poorly secured and dilapidated Division of Corrections in Susupe was built years ago to accommodate 32 prisoners, but it is now home to almost 100 inmates.

Lack of local funds in the past to match federal infrastructure grants has imperiled the plan, now considered a priority under a seven-year master plan for Capital Improvement Projects.

In a separate interview, task force chairman Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider expressed apprehension that the prison siege would hamper construction of the $17 million prison.

“This threw a curve on the task force agenda,” Hofschneider said. “Now it is a matter of bringing the existing correctional facility to working condition.”

Heinz said a representative of the Department Public Safety reported to task force members that the male detention center, which prisoners took control, has been totally damaged and would cost the cash-strapped government additional money to cover repair expenses.

Even before the hostage incident, the first ever on Saipan, the commonwealth has been confronted with difficulties pumping money into the upgrading of the correctional facility. Hofschneider said close to $1 million have been spent to improve the existing facility while CNMI has yet to built a permanent prison.

“But now the whole scenario has changed. While we are doing repairs to meet the minimum expectation enumerated in the decree consent, now we have an additional cost,” he said.

According to the task force chairman, he will explore the possibility of tapping local matching funds to divert it for the immediate repair of the male detention center.