Plans to upgrade Tanumalala Prison have been put on hold following the failure to pass the national budget. 

Caretaker Minister for Police and Prisons, Faualo Harry Schuster, said part of the reform initiative included separating the prison service from the police force. 

He said it was a structural change that would allow both departments to focus more effectively on their core duties.

“If the budget had been passed, the programme would have gone ahead as planned,” said Faualo in a video posted to his political party, Samoa Uniting Party’s (SUP) Facebook page.

“During the planning stages, we wanted to separate the prison from the policing,” he said.

Faualo acknowledged ongoing challenges at the prison, including periodic escapes, but assured the public that authorities were doing their best to maintain public safety.

“There are indeed times when prisoners escape, but the police do all they can to ensure that the safety of the public is prioritised,” he said.

The minister also highlighted discussions around introducing rehabilitation programmes for young offenders to prevent repeat offences. However, he did not provide details about the types of rehabilitation services that would be implemented.

Faualo noted that the condition of the prison was a known concern and efforts to upgrade the facility were already in progress before being stalled.

He further claimed that since the current administration came into office, public complaints against the police have significantly declined.

“When we started the government, there were many complaints against the police department — and now there are less.” he said.