Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, inaugurated on Tuesday afternoon the new closed prison wing, in Nicosia. The new wing includes 97 cells, four dormitories, a classroom, a dental office, a medical office, a visiting room, a gym, a basketball court, a kitchen, a restaurant, and can accommodate up to 240 prisoners.

According to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, the works to convert the open prison wing into a closed one began in early 2024 and were completed within 11 months, at the end of November 2024, in accordance with the specifications and requirements of the Central Prisons. The project also included the installation of specialised security systems.

In his speech, President Christodoulides, said that when he assumed office in March 2023, his Government dealt with the serious and chronic problems plaguing the prisons and that they adopted a comprehensive plan including the implementation of a multi-level upgrade programme, which concerned, primarily, increasing the capacity of the Central Prisons and which is being implemented in two phases.

The first phase, he said, included the creation and/or modernisation of three essential infrastructures in the Central Prisons and the second phase concerns the creation of a new modern closed prison wing, based on the recommendations and standards set by all competent international and European organisations both for prison security and as regards respect for the human rights of prisoners.

According to President Christodoulides the implementation of the first phase of the programme, which includes three new infrastructures with a total cost of €5.5 million has been completed. He noted that the conversion of the old open prison into a closed prison wing with a capacity of approximately 240 people, alleviates the overcrowding problem by 30% and gives the administration greater flexibility to implement its educational and reformative programmes more effectively.

Regarding the second phase, the President said that the construction of a new closed prison wing, with a capacity of 360 places, at a cost of €35 million, has already been approved by the Council of Ministers and is expected to be completed in early 2028.

“With the completion of both phases of the projects, for which I point out that special provision has been made to meet the educational, therapeutic, reformative and support needs of prisoners, the prisons will be able to accommodate approximately 1,200 people”, he added, noting that this means almost double the capacity compared with when he assumed office.

He also said that the Council of Ministers would discuss on Wednesday a proposal for the upgrading of the Correctional Officers’ Academy of the Department of Prisons into a higher education public school in a manner that will result in a recognised study certificate, but also announced the decision to increase the monthly special allowance for prison guards from €120 to €240 starting from March 1, 2025, saying that the government recognises and supports the work of prison guards and their unique and difficult working conditions.