A new pressure group of ex-cons determined to go straight has called for Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer to be booted out of his job.

And the group wants to see a tougher regime in Westgate jail, with an emphasis on hard work and training for freedom.

Now they are to petition the Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety Paula Cox for a change in the law banning ex-inmates from visiting prisons so they can help get criminals back on the straight and narrow.

The group spokesman said: "We have nothing against Mr. Dyer as a man -- but as Commissioner his time is up.'' The spokesman said Westgate was opened amid claims of a new regime to halt the revolving door system -- but that a conservative approach had made the $40 million-plus showpiece "a failure''.

And he claimed: "Mr. Dyer bears some responsibility for Bermuda's crime rate because of the number of people who have left prison and committed offences over and over again.

"Nothing is being addressed as regards rehabilitation and that should be the primary objective because Bermuda can't afford to stay with the concept of just locking people up.

"The men inside have no hope and they really don't care -- that means, when they get out, someone is going to be the next victim.

"For the wellbeing of Bermuda, we just cannot allow this cycle to continue.'' Yesterday, Ms Cox said she was open to any suggestions which might improve prisons -- but defended Mr. Dyer to the hilt.

She said: "I'd certainly look forward to meeting this group and hearing their views.

"Where there is constructive criticism and suggestions, we wouldn't close the door.'' But she described the attack on Mr. Dyer as "a nonsense'' -- and said Civil Servants only carried out the policies of Government.

Ms Cox said: "If you're going to make any criticism, you have to take it to the right place -- Mr. Dyer would be implementing the policies of the Government.'' She added that many of the concerns raised by the group had already figured in talks the new Government had had with the Prison Service and Treatment of Offenders Board. Ms Cox said: "We have a strong focus in Government on rehabilitation programmes and how the Treatment of Offenders Board can better serve needs in terms of prisons and the Prisons Act.'' Dyer must go, say ex-inmates The spokesman -- released after several years in prison and who asked not to be named -- represents Reformed Ex-inmates Striving for Excellence (RXISE), a newly-formed small group with big ideas on improving the prison system.

He said all of them were now law-abiding and held down jobs -- and had no intention of ever going back inside.

But the spokesman painted a picture of prisoners who spent most of their time doing nothing -- with drug abuse an easy option.

The spokesman said: "Long gone are the days when we need to adopt this conservative attitude.

"The taxpayer deserves more than this and we, as reformed ex-inmates, would like to play our part.

"There is a notion that you go in as a pig and come out as a sausage -- but you're still pork. That's not necessarily true.

"There are men out here who have been locked up and who are striving for excellence and who'd like to see other inmates get back on their feet.

"The prison is not giving people inside spiritual support and moral guidance -- we believe we can offer these men that.'' The spokesman said: "We are hoping to get in contact with Government and the prisons administration to allow us to re-enter the prison.

"We can say `we've been there, we know where you're at -- I'm out there now and this is what is required of you'.'' And he backed Dr. Roy Williams of the Wood Shop Plus programme, which teaches offenders carpentry in a bid to help them trade a life of crime for a marketable skill.

Dr. Williams said earlier this month that if prison was more of a deterrent, ex-inmates "would try harder to stay out of it.'' But the claims were dismissed by Mr. Dyer, who said the prison system had strict rules which had to be followed -- but he said "making prisoners' lives more miserable'' could be counter-productive.

But the RXISE spokesman said: "We believe if the prison was tougher, people would not be saying there's nothing hard about prison.

"And the Prison Commissioner is just not admitting these facts -- we have liberal facilities and a conservative Commissioner which is why Westgate is a failure.'' Mr. Dyer yesterday declined to comment on the group's claims about the Prison Service regime.

Edward Dyer