Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira said space for another 15 prisoners had been found.

And several inmates were nearing the end of their sentences, averting a potential crisis.

"We are all right at present, although we will be reviewing the situation daily,'' Dr. Terceira said yesterday.

Fears of overcrowding were prompted by the flood of Operation Cleansweep arrests.

Some 23 people have so far been remanded in custody in connection with the Police operation against drug dealers.

One prison officer, who did not wish to be named, said Westgate's remand area had become packed.

Those arrested in Cleansweep were placed in maximum security and several inmates were moved to the Prison Farm to make extra space, he claimed.

On Wednesday, Dr. Terceira said Westgate prisoners could be released early or forced to share cells in a bid to combat overcrowding.

Yesterday he met Acting Prisons Commissioner Marvin Trott and Permanent Secretary for Social Services, Donald Scott, to discuss the two options.

And after a 40-minute meeting at his Ministry he announced neither option would be taken up, at this time.

"We have got a number of prisoners who are due to end their sentences over the next six weeks, which really gives us adequate space. Some will even be out next week.

"As a result there is no need for early release and we don't really have a big problem.

"There is no crisis as such although initially with such a sudden influx of people we wondered how we would cope. It is really a juggling act.'' Dr. Terceira declined to say where the 15 extra spaces had been found -- whether at Westgate, the Prison Farm or the Co-Ed Facility.

"That is a security matter,'' he said, adding: "There is no need at all to have two prisoners a cell. I do not foresee us having to do that.'' Dr. Terceira praised prison officers who had been working flat out to deal with the extra workload.

"I have asked for a note to go around thanking them for their extra effort.

"They have not had to work over-time yet, but there has been an added stress on them.'' Westgate can accommodate 208 prisoners. There are 144 medium security cells; 32 cells for maximum security inmates and an identical number for remand prisoners.