Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — There is a “gross injustice” with regard to how the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) in Tafuna is operated which has been going on for years, and a “blatant negligence” of the infrastructure of the TCF, namely the Bravo Building where Pending Inmates are detained, according to an inmate who has communicated with Samoa News via email.

The inmate who wants to remain anonymous claims to be a former prison counselor abroad, and is familiar with how such an institution should be operated.

He stated that amongst the daily operations, there are many structured guidelines in place to assist in behavioral conduct and so forth. These guideline are printed in an Inmate Orientation Handbook.

The inmate claims that for the last 10 years, he has witnessed firsthand the blatant negligence of Bravo Building. He argues that this particular building should be condemned and that he has already contacted the federal authorities concerning this matter.

“Not only is it not fit for housing, it is severely overcrowded,” he stated. “Most of the toilets and showers don’t work, ventilation is poor, electrical wires are hanging down and used as makeshift outlets, it is filthy and the stench from the broken toilets fills the air.”

And he claims that this is only the tip of the iceberg as to what really goes on in there.

With regard to visitations, he revealed that has not been any personal or family visitations allowed for over three years now.

“As a consequence, the moral and the overall atmosphere in this building is demoralizing,” he said.

This in turn has resulted in tensions in the compound and fights break out five or six times a week. Escapes has become the norm and even the guards are fed up because of no overtime pay which has led to conflicts with the administration and inmates.

“It’s a no-win situation for them,” the inmate stated.

He stated that his job there is to be a model inmate and he also uses his experience to improve the overall circumstances in the prison by being the bridge between the inmates and the administration.

“It is my belief that if it wasn’t for our Samoan culture, the facility would be in an uproar,” he stated. “It is my prayer that in the near future, the appropriate personnel can collectively arrange for the TCF to be in compliance with Federal standards and to lift the ban on visitations.”

Attempts by Samoa News to contact Warden Papalii Marion Fitisemanu for comments concerning the allegations raised by the inmate were unsuccessful as of press time.