KIGALI - Four prison warders from the Rwanda Prison Services will today head for the United Nations peace keeping mission in Haiti to assist with peace keeping efforts.

This was announced yesterday by the Commissioner General of Prison Services, Mary Gahonzire.

According to Gahonzire, the prison officers all of whom are experienced in various fields in line with the prison services are going to help in training and advising in Haiti.

"The UN needed experienced people in various fields who have been working in prison services and we fielded our well-trained officers who were able to pass all the tests and they were chosen from a host of other candidates from other countries,” said Gahonzire.

Gahonzire attributed the UN’s interest in the Rwandan officers to their past experiences with the Army and police officers who have worked well in the peace keeping missions in several countries.

"Rwandan officers, both in the army and police who have worked in these peace keeping missions have shown a high degree of professionalism and discipline.”

She urged the officers to tread in the footsteps of their predecessors and to uphold the country’s flag in its efforts to help restore peace around the world.

"Rwanda is a country that went through suffering, so it’s always our pleasure to help whenever our services are needed as far as peace keeping is concerned,” Gahonzire said.

Other two officers will also follow the first batch and other 34 officers are being prepared for the mission in case need arises.

One of the officers, Dativa Ngaboyisonga Nyangezi, said that she was taking her experience to Haiti, but also hoped to gain more experience.

Haiti was on January 12, hit by devastating earthquake that resulted in more than 220,000 deaths (according to Haitian Government figures).

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