A halfway house which helps rehabilitate convicts prison inmates faces an uncertain future after an independent committee judged it `unsuitable'.

And the committee set up to determine the fate of the Woodshop Plus programme in St. George's is now working on a replacement scheme.

The committee reviewed the scheme, which was designed by founder Cleveland Simmons to reintroduce ex-convicts into the community, for five months to see if it could be integrated into Government's Alternatives to Incarceration programme.

Area residents had complained that "doubtful transactions'' and drug activity were taking place at the facility.

"The committee has determined that while Mr. Simmons' model has some merit, the programme itself cannot address the needs of former inmates, or offer effective rehabilitation,'' a release stated.

"While the committee found Mr. Simmons' Woodshop initiative unsuitable for wider incorporation, we acknowledge Mr. Simmons' mammoth efforts to re-introduce former inmates into the workforce. Clearly the future of the Woodshop resides with Mr. Simmons and we wish him well.'' The committee's findings has prompted the launch of a new agency that is staffed by trained rehabilitative and substance abuse professionals and bound by "generally-accepted business practices''.

The release said training of the staff members was currently in progress and it anticipated unveiling the new agency within two months.

The Woodshop Plus programme was blasted by St. George's North MP Delaey Robinson for having poor management, despite its laudable aims.

Woodshop programme criticised "People involved in the programme were not terribly responsible with money, they were not the sort of people with financial integrity,'' he told the House of Assembly last month.

Speaking yesterday, Mr. Robinson said that for any new programme to work, constant supervision and assessment of former inmates would be required.

"As long as you don't have the foxes guarding the hen house, there shouldn't be a problem,'' he said.