Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Maxwell Burgess hinted it was time for Prisons commissioner John Presod to quit.

Communications among the top three in the prison leadership had ground to a halt said Mr. Burgess.

He told the House yesterday: ?When a relationship is not working maybe it is time to kiss and say goodbye.?

He said prisons number two in command Marvin Trott and the number three Randall Woolridge could do no worse than the current incumbent.

However he admitted Mr. Trott was his cousin and Mr. Woolridge was an old friend.

He called for capable Bermudians within the prison leadership to be identified and groomed for the top job.

?It?s widely felt in this community that prison officers are doing harder time than the inmates themselves,? said Mr. Burgess. ?The prisons are in a God-awful shape,? and he added officers were under siege.

He said there was a mass exodus of experienced officers.

?Assaults on officers have more than doubled. It could be they sense the freedom they feel in this set of circumstances.? Part-time staff were working on a full-time basis and should be given proper status said Mr. Burgess.

Earlier Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton had admitted there had been significant challenges in the Department of Corrections.

He listed last April?s industrial action, significant differences between the senior administration of the Department and the rank and file over a number of issues and Government?s concern that illicit drugs continue to find their way into our correctional facilities.

He went on: ?I cite the fact that our correctional facilities continue to experience overcrowding. I cite the fact that we experienced a very difficult Coroner?s Inquest into the death of inmate Stephen (Pepe) Dill.?

Officers had gone on strike in frustration over a variety of issues, including what the Prison Officers? Association perceived to be communication difficulties with Mr. Prescod, said Mr. Horton.

He said a the review panel on the situation would submit its findings to him shortly and he re-emphasised Government?s commitment to implementation recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry for Labour Disputes in the Prison Service made three years ago. Recommendations still outstanding include formal dissemination of learning from overseas courses and bi-monthly seminars, rotational acting-up schedule and the development of an in house problem-solving culture.

Mr. Horton said: ?I believe that is the most serious challenge and that its implementation depends upon the will of all parties rather than upon policies, systems and material means.?