Garap, 65, bows out after 48 yearsBy WASITA ROYAL

FORMER Chief Superintendent of Kerevat Correctional Services in East New Britain Province, Margaret Garap has retired at the age of 65 after serving the institution for 48 years.
She handed over the baton to the incumbent Superintendent Fidelis Kaski recently at Kerevat CIS.
Chief Supt Garap, who is from West New Britain Province, was one of the first six female officers in Papua New Guinea to be trained at the Bomana CS College and recruited by the Department of Correctional Services in 1977.
“The first female officers were exposed when we were posted out to other provinces,” she said.
“I gained courage when I was posted to take up the role as the acting commander at Biru Prison for five years.”
According to Chief Supt Garap, many challenges were encountered in the male-dominated field.
However, she challenged other females in the force to stand firm and perform their duties in order to be promoted.
She urged them to serve the government with honesty, loyalty, commitment and dedication.
“It will be a great honour for PNG to have this equal opportunity for the females and male to look after the prisons throughout the country,” Chief Supt Garap said.
“I am grateful to the department for grooming me over the years thus far.
“This is a male-dominated field but I thank God for setting me for this commission in the prison system.”
She urged the staff to submit as this is important in terms of serving the new commander and to achieve more things.
“Teamwork is needed and all officers must submit to the new commanding officer,” Chief Supt Garap said.
She acknowledged the ENB Provincial Government for their support to the institution, including the Governor, the members in the four districts and the private sector.
Superintendent Kaski was recruited in East New Britain in 1994 and has served in the force for 29 years.
He was transferred from Buimo CS in Morobe Province to East New Britain last month to take up his new role.
Supt Kaski said he is prepared, confident and ready for this new leadership role.
“I thanked the former Commissioner Michael Waipo, with the current Commissioner Stephen Pokanis for grooming me with capacity-building,” he said.
“I am ready for this new role.”
Commander Kaski said he is willing to work with the provincial leaders and the people to lower escape rates as well as provide services that the community needs.
He said support from the public and private sectors would help to look after inmates in prison.
Supt Kaski said looking after prisoners was not an easy job and would need the assistance of stakeholders and the local community.
Inmate Daniel Kawa, who spoke on behalf of the inmates, acknowledged the work of Garap and her administration over the years at the institution.
He said they were privileged to have her in a male-dominated position, where she has left a legacy.
“We have gained many good things with many changes through her, though she had a lot of things on her plate to digest but she managed to go through the hard times with us,” Kawa said.
“She has set a benchmark for upcoming commanders in the Correctional Services.
“The service has contributed to peacekeeping in communities.
“Authorities should step in and help them accelerate the rehabilitation system.
“Our commanders cannot work alone, they need support.”
He said the inmates are grateful for the new commander and at the same time farewell the outgoing chief commander.
Kawa said they consider the new commander as a vibrant leader with vast experience who will take them through the hard times again.
He said Chief Supt, in her time, sought support from higher authorities, fought for the prisoners’ needs, reached out and was let down most of the times but she never gave up.
“I would like to call upon the higher authorities to tap in to assist the new superintendent and look at the issues encountered in prison,” Kawa said.
“We have many issues that need to be addressed.”