Handing out condoms in Bermudian prisons in a bid to halt the transmission of HIV and AIDS has been ruled out by prisons chiefs.

Commissioner of Prisons Ed Dyer was speaking after a Coroner's Court jury in the Bahamas recommended that condoms should be handed out in the Caribbean island's prison.

Mr. Dyer said: "It's not something I am advancing at this particular moment in time -- it's not something you can just go out and do because someone gets a bit emotive about it.

"I'm not opposed to it, but it's not something I'm giving any serious thought to at the moment.'' He added he was not aware how many HIV-plus and AIDS prisoners there were in the system -- but said he did not think the numbers in the 206 capacity Westgate were significant.

Mr. Dyer said: "This is not an area which is causing us any great concern.'' A Coroner's Court in the Bahamas recommended issuing condoms in the former British colony's prison and the segregation of prisoners with HIV and AIDS.

In 1994, the Caribbean island chain had 250 HIV-plus inmates in a prison population of 2,163.

But the handing out of condoms has since been condemned by the Nassau-based Bahamas Christian Council.

The Christian Council called for more social workers and more than one chaplain to increase spiritual guidance. Members, who come from all the Bahamanian churches, also called for extra prison guards to protect prisoners from "aggressive sexual inmates.'' The Bahamas call comes after a visiting US AIDS expert suggested condoms be issued in the Bermudian prison system to cut down on the spread of the deadly virus.

But the Bahamas Christian Council's stance was yesterday backed by AME Ministerial Alliance president the Rev. Leonard Santucci.

He said: "I appreciate the intent and vehemently disagree. Prisoners are incarcerated because of criminal activity. It would be woefully inappropriate to make the prison appear as if it has become a homosexual brothel.

Rev. Santucci, who holds a diploma in prison ministry and has worked in medium and maximum security prisons in Canada, said the issue of condoms in prisons -- or schools -- could not be looked at in isolation.

He said: "I think a part of the problem here is that it behooves us to examine the social, political and economic constructs of our society. The incarcerations are a result of some of these dynamics.'' He added that there was a moral responsibility not to encourage prisoners to take part in behind-bars sexual activity.

But he suggested that allowing prisoners to have sexual relations with wives should be considered.

He said: "Conjugal visits are a different kettle of fish -- we need to look at our whole attitude to prison sentences. There are a whole host of social factors to consider.''