The Prison Service will not shave the heads of inmates who wear dreadlocks until the entire issue has been thrashed out at the highest level, a Minister said yesterday.

Health Minister Harry Soares is this morning meeting with Prison Commissioner Edward Dyer and Permanent Secretary for Health, Carl Musson to discuss the matter.

Parents of inmates in both Westgate and the Prison Farm have complained that the commissioner's decision to shave the inmates -- some of whom are Rastafarians -- violates both the Bermuda Constitution and the Human Rights Act.

A few of the parents have lodged complaints with PLP MPs Renee Webb and Dr.

Ewart Brown.

Ms Webb said that the PLP had learned that the prison authorities planned to cut prisoners' locks off within 48 hours.

"Both the prisoners and family members are up in arms as they believe that freedom of religious expression is not being respected by prison authorities,'' she said in a prepared statement.

Ms Webb said that since Rastafarianism held the growing of locks as one of their religious beliefs, it should fall under the freedom of religion which is recognised in the Bermuda Constitution.

Moreover she said the Human Rights Act bans discrimination based on religious beliefs.

Ms Webb said prison authorities had to obtain female prisoners' consent if they wished to cut their hair unless it was required for medical reasons.

Since a similar policy did not exist for male prisoners, she said this was an example of discrimination based on sex.

"The issue of international conventions which Bermuda is party to such as the Geneva Convention and the European Convention must also be considered,'' she added.

"Freedom of religious expression is a recognised right under these conventions. We implore the Minister to respect the religious freedom of prisoners and allow them to grow their hair as an expression of their religious beliefs.'' Mr. Soares meanwhile said he recognised the religious and human rights issues involved in the present prison policy but he stressed that there were other considerations such as inmate safety.

And he said prison officials also were worried about inmates hiding drugs in their hair.

Furthermore he said there was also a safety aspect, because an inmate could use his locks to hang himself in his cell.

"The hair cutting policy is a longstanding one at the prisons,'' he explained. "It's exactly the same as recruits who go into the Bermuda Regiment.

"I have checked into the issue with the commissioner and he told me that the hair cutting order was put in abeyance on Wednesday. He told me he wanted to explore the issues further.'' Mr. Soares said that while the policy exists, it has not been strictly enforced against Rastafarians.

"This matter was placed on hold long before the PLP contacted me with news of these complaints.

"(This) morning I will be meeting with the commissioner and Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Carl Musson.

"There are many sides to this issue. It involves safety and problems with contraband, but it is also a Human Rights and freedom of religion issue as well.'' However Mr. Soares said he understood that even in Jamaica, the home of Rastafarianism, prisoners were shaven.

"Another problem for us is that there are several sincere Rastafarians but there are others who wear dreadlocks as a fashion statement only. Just because someone has locks does not mean that person is a Rasta.''