FLASHBACK: The vandalized Harper Central Prison
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- It is nearly seven months now since the only prison center in the southeastern Maryland County was massively vandalized by angry mob, who were protesting against the gruesome murder of a motorcyclist in nearby Pleebo city.
The action prompted the escape of scores of prisoners, although a number of them were later arrested by the Liberia National Police.
But up till now, there is no prison to house inmates in this port city.
In an effort to rebuild the prison, Maryland County Superintendent, George A. Prowd has rallied citizens to buttress government’s renovation of the prison.
Addressing a group of citizens in Pleebo and Harper during a meeting over the weekend, Superintendent Prowd said it was disgusting that after eight months, the prison center is yet to be operational.
The facility was seriousl vandalized in March this year by the angry protesters, who stormed Harper City, demanding Justice for the youthful motorcyclist and Pleebo High School student, Mordecia Nyema, who was allegedly murdered with body parts extracted.
“The criminals are aware that we don’t have a prison compound,” said Superintendent Prowd, noting that it was about time the people of Maryland join efforts to temporarily renovate the prison compound.
“I remember that the business community at one point in time was experiencing a lot of problems, and a meeting was held here to the extent that we had to remobilize the citizens’ defense force which I believe is helping,” the Maryland County Superintendent recalled.
However, he noted that the court system is important, so this is why current campaign is necessary.
He has set up a committee that will mobilize local resources to make the prison functional once again, pending the government’s full intervention.
Superintendent Prowd disclosed that preliminary assessment done on the prison recently revealed that the main gate needs to be reinstalled, while some of the cell doors only need locks and welding.
The Maryland County superintendent pleaded with the business community and well-meaning citizens to cooperate for the overall safety of the county.
“It is risky for court officers to be carrying criminals from here to Fishtown, (River Gee County) or from here to Zwedru (Grand Gedeh County). While the government is still finding the money to do it, let’s see what we can do as a county to solve the problem,” Mr. Prowd pleaded.
The Harper Central Prison is the only correction palace in the county. Due to its damage, the general justice and rule of law system appear to be paralyzed in the county.
Pleebo Magisterial Court Judge, A. Boyee Mah said, pretrial detainees are either held at the Fish Town Correction Palace next door to River Gee County or are taken to Zwedru Correction Palace in Grand Gedeh County.
Magistrate Mah explained that though the road is paved from Harper, Maryland to Fish Town, River Gee but bumpy from River Gee to Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, transportation fair is another issue, as commercial bikes charge 3,000 Liberian dollars per person, while public transport drivers charge between 1,500 and 1,800 per person.
He sees the situation as very challenging and stressed the need government’s urgent intervention, adding the lack of prison poses a serious burden on the court’s ability to dispense justice.
The Judge said that the Pleebo Magisterial Court is usually in a catch-22 situation, in which they don’t have the resources to transport defendants to the Fish Town Correction Palace and won’t risk releasing defendants back into the community without prosecution.
In some cases, Judge Mah indicated that the complainants or those directly victimized are the ones who facilitate the transportation of defendants.
However, in cases where complainants can’t afford, “It can be a difficult situation,” Magistrate Mah pointed out.