Daru Correctional Institution celebrates PNG’s 50th Independence with culture, sports and reflection

The Daru Correctional Institution launched its 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations today with traditional dancing and sporting activities, bringing together inmates, staff, and the wider community in a program that will run until Friday.

Acting Jail Commander Chief Superintendent [CSM] Saeth Messeah said the celebration was not only about marking 50 years of nationhood but also about reflection, transformation, and hope.

“We are not just here to celebrate 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence, but to reflect on the journey of transformation, unity, and hope,” CSM Messeah told those gathered.

He emphasized that the correctional institution stands as a symbol of discipline, reform, and second chances, noting that inmates participating in the program were not outcasts but citizens learning, growing, and preparing to rejoin the nation they call home.

Messeah reminded participants that independence is more than freedom from colonial rule, but also the freedom to change, rise, and build a better future together.

Through cultural and sporting activities, inmates were reminded of their role as citizens and their potential to contribute to Papua New Guinea’s growth and development.

The Acting Commander also thanked staff, partners, and community members for their support and belief in the power of rehabilitation.

The Daru Correctional Institution’s celebration displays how PNG’s golden jubilee of independence is being marked not only in towns and villages, but also within institutions where themes of unity and transformation carry deep meaning.