Obura-Wonenara Local Member of Parliament (MP) and Agriculture Minister John Boito has emphasized that law-and-order remains a top priority for his district in the Eastern Highlands Province. He made this statement on Friday, January 3rd, 2025, during a ceremony officiating the handover of a new prison van to Bundaira Jail. Minister Boito stated that the initiative aligns with the Marape-Rosso Government's focus on bolstering the law and justice sector as Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence. The handover event was attended by senior officials from the Correctional Service (CS), warders, inmates, and members of the local community. In addition to the provision of the prison van, the Obura-Wonenara District Development Authority (DDA) is also contributing to the development of Bundaira Jail through projects such as the construction of a perimeter fence and the installation of a water supply system. “This vehicle has been purchased using funds from the people of Obura-Wonenara, whom I represent. I hope that the Kainantu, Okapa, and Henganofi DDAs will also support Bundaira Jail, as their people are housed here as well,” Minister Boito said. Highlighting the importance of maintaining law-and-order, Minister Boito underscored that the district's development efforts—including road construction, educational infrastructure, and coffee production—will be in vain if law-and-order issues are not addressed. “Law-and-order is a priority for Obura-Wonenara. Despite the fact that we are building roads throughout our district, constructing classrooms, and fostering an environment for increased coffee production, all these efforts will amount to nothing if we neglect law-and-order,” he said. Minister Boito further elaborated on the district's ongoing commitment to enhancing security. “We are purchasing police vehicles for both Obura-Wonenara and neighboring Kainantu using funds from our district. These funds have also been used to bring water supply to Bundaira, construct a perimeter fence, and now provide this new prison van.” While acknowledging staffing challenges at Bundaira Jail, Minister Boito noted that addressing manpower issues is beyond his jurisdiction. The Minister also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the landowners who provided land for the establishment of Bundaira Jail. He urged the Correctional Service to prioritize awarding contracts to these landowners as part of ongoing development projects. “The National Government is increasing funding to the law and justice sector, which means we can expect further developments at Bundaira Jail. I encourage the Correctional Service to involve landowners in these developments,” he said. Minister Boito concluded by outlining future plans to introduce agricultural initiatives at Bundaira Jail. “Our Obura-Wonenara DDA has plans to purchase a tractor to help plough the land within the jail. This will enable inmates to engage in farming activities, growing vegetables such as cabbages and sweet potatoes to supplement their diet. More importantly, inmates will acquire valuable agricultural skills that they can utilize upon their release.” The handover of the prison van marks another step in the district's ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of Bundaira Jail and improve the overall law-and-order situation in the region.