Montserrat by taking up to twelve of its prisoners in the event a volcano erupts.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness announced the plan this week as Government had close ties to the island.

A number of Bermudians or relatives of Bermudians live on the tiny Caribbean ssland which has a population of 11,000. It is located in the eastern Caribbean 27 miles southwest of Antigua and 250 miles southeast of Puerto Rico.

The Chances Peak volcano, whose last major eruption was more than 100 years ago, has been spewing dust and debris for about a month, raising concerns about a major eruption that could engulf the tiny island.

Mr. Edness added that if the volcano does erupt Bermuda will accept the prisoners for a period of six months.

"The cost of this operation is to be borne by the British Government. It may not be necessary for us to receive these prisoners as it all depends on the potential eruption of the volcano which could cause either total or partial evacuation of the Island,'' he said.

He added: "The Bermuda Prison department has agreed that it could accommodate up to a maximum of 12 prisoners from Montserrat without jeopardising its services.

"So, it is therefore proposed that should the Montserratan Government render its prison unfit for use the Bermuda Government will assist in this way.'' Unfortunately, Mr. Edness said, the larger independent territories in the Caribbean are not able to assist with the prisoners because there is no legal entity to transfer prisoners from a dependent territory to an independent territory, and the smaller islands do not have the facilities to assist in this matter. Some of the larger islands do not have the facilities either.

"It is fortuitous that Bermuda has the facilities and the resource capabilities to assist. The prisoners can be transferred to a dependent territory under the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884,'' Mr. Edness said.

He added: "Bermuda is also standing by to assist in other ways. In discussion with the Montserrat Government should the volcano eruption take place they say it could be possible that they would need assistance with doctors and nurses.

"Our medical fraternity has been alerted about the possibility of helping to provide assistance of this kind.'' Reuters also reported that scientists this week had noted "a particularly intense eruption of ash and steam from a vent on the island's east-southeast coast, which shrouded the capital city in dust, panicking residents and bringing commercial activity to a halt.

"But though the volcano continued to spew gases and ash, no further intense activity followed last Tuesday and there was no indication of when the volcano might erupt.'' Evacuees were staying mostly in shelters organised in churches and other public buildings, though many were housed with friends or relatives.

The volcano first erupted about five weeks ago and scientists from the United States and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad have been monitoring its activity.