And it has led to simmering frustration within the prison, The Royal Gazette can reveal today.

One prisoner told how work programmes helped release pent-up anger.

"When inmates leave the prison, you're taking some of the tension out of the place,'' he said.

Yesterday, however, Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness defended the new regime.

He said it was vital to balance the needs of prisoners with those of the community.

Mr. Edness added Casemates inmates could still be considered for programmes -- if they proved themselves.

He also pointed out work programmes were up and running at the prison farm.

The huge prison shake-up followed the killing of German tourist Antja Herkommer earlier this year.

New criteria were introduced for classifying prisoners eligible for day-release programmes.

Under it, inmates were graded minimum, medium, and maximum security risks.

Only minimum security prisoners have been allowed to participate in work programmes unsupervised.

Those deemed a maximum security risk have been barred from joining, even under escort.

This includes murderers and violent sex offenders.

And prisoners rejected for parole can now only enter a pre-release scheme after talks between the Prison Commissioner and Government.

The new regime was disclosed on June 17 by Mr. Edness, following a report on Bermuda's prisons.

He also announced the lifting of a suspension of work programmes.

The schemes were suspended after the alleged murder of the German tourist at a programme work site.

During an interview with The Royal Gazette last week, however, Casemates inmates revealed programmes had not restarted at the Dockyard prison.

One inmate said 20 percent of the prison population had been in the programmes.

"They haven't happened since the killing,'' he added.

The inmate said he was serving time for indecent assault, and had been in and out of prison since 1972.

Mr. Edness yesterday accepted work programmes released tensions.

"We have to balance that, however, against the security of the prison,'' he explained.

He added: "No prisoners involved in serious crime are currently eligible for programmes.'' Mr. Edness, however, said it would be possible for prisoners to be periodically reclassified.

This would mean a convicted murderer, theoretically, could eventually become eligible for work outside the prison.

"He would have to qualify under the eligibility requirements.'' Mr. Edness said Casemates prisoners could, if downgraded as a security risk, join work programmes at the prison farm.