Officers at Westgate Correctional Facility remained in dispute with management yesterday after hours of attempted negotiations.

An atmosphere of defiance prevailed as officers stayed in the car park of the Dockyard prison, having downed tools over working conditions related to staff shortages among other concerns.

The dispute resulted in the facility being secured early yesterday as officers gathered outside. Leaving the building at just after 2.50pm, chairman of the Prison Officers Association Timothy Seon told The Royal Gazette: “We have some concerns about security at the facility that I cannot disclose at this point. There are several outstanding issues that have not been resolved. Staff shortages is one issue. We have been told there are more people scheduled to join us sometime before the end of the year, but we are grossly short due to government austerity and cutbacks.”

It is understood that negotiations are ongoing today. We will update with any new information as it becomes available.

While Commissioner of Prisons Lieutenant Colonel Edward Lamb would not comment on what the dispute was related to yesterday, one source told this newspaper that staff were not only fed up with a lack of staff but also with the bullying tactics of a certain member of staff.

The source said: “It’s a bullying issue ... it’s like we’re walking on egg shells. People are tired.”

Mr Lamb said earlier in the day: “I can confirm that there is an issue at Westgate with staff and we are currently working through it. The facility remains secure — all inmates are secured inside — and our staff are working through the issues. We hope to resolve them quite shortly.” But last night there was no sign of a resolution.

Prisoners are believed to have missed out on their regular programmes and activities as a result of the action.

Early in the afternoon, union representatives and senior members of correctional staff addressed some 20 staff members who had gathered in the parking lot where they discussed matters for about an hour.

A statement from the Ministry of National Security said: “The ministry advises that senior management are working with corrections officers to bring about a resolution.

“The Minister of National Security, Jeffrey Baron, is being kept fully abreast of developments regarding the matter.”