Govt to merge TIG and Prisons Service

KIGALI - The National Prisons Service (NPS) and the TIG (Works for General Interest) service are to be merged to form the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS). This was confirmed yesterday by the Minister of Internal Security, Musa Fazil Harerimana, during an interview. TIG is a Programme in which people who confessed to taking part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi perform community service in lieu of serving prison terms. According to the minister, the idea to merge the two institutions came about during last year’s National Dialogue Conference because both are responsible for correction. Harerimana revealed that the bill to govern the institution will soon be tabled before parliament for endorsement. “I have sent a letter to the Prime Minister seeking authorisation to take the draft to parliament, I believe it will not change many of the articles,” Harerimana said. “When combined, the institution will have fewer employees instead of having two separate bodies doing almost the same work,” he added. One of the items in the bill not expected to change is the order defining the ranks, salaries and appointments of prison wardens. Ends