Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Prison guards who transport detainees between the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) and the court house finally have the keys to a new van.

For months, the TCF escorts had to bear the hardships of transporting detainees in an old van that had no mirrors, no dispatch radio, no back windows, and a leaky roof.

The back lights did not work and there was no ventilation in the back, as the window on one side was cracked and had to be boarded up with a piece of wood, while the other side window was sealed shut.

After the old van was finally taken off the streets, TCF escorts had to resort to calling whatever DPS unit was available to transport the detainees. This usually caused a delay in the court's calendar.

Afterwards, TCF was given a small mini SUV which could LEGALLY only fit three passengers in the back seat. But because 5 or more detainees are usually scheduled for court appearances — per day — there was no choice but to force the others to squeeze into the trunk — very unsafe, very illegal.

The delivery of the new van was possible after the recent approval of an administration bill appropriating $54,000 to fund the purchase.