A suggestion made by Government MP and former Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Perinchief to reopen Casemates prison has received mixed reactions from MPs.

Opposition MP Michael Dunkley said he was interested in Mr. Perinchief's comments because of his previous position.

"Speaking personally, I've always felt that we are not firm enough with criminals,'' he said.

"Prison is just a glorified and expensive baby-sitting service. This is not to criticise the people working there -- the problem is with the system we put in place.'' Mr. Dunkley said the current prison system was "a revolving door'', with an 80 percent recidivism rate. "It is obviously not working properly,'' he said.

"We need an alternate programme and to be firm and fair in the type of justice that is being handed out. People need to be punished, but they need to be rehabilitated as well and have proper societal values ingrained into them.'' But he said Government should not lock up criminals and throw away the key.

"Prisoners should be helped so that they can be productive members of society when they are let out,'' he said.

And he said it would not be too much trouble to return Casemates to working order for hard-core offenders,.

"The whole situation needs to be assessed and all the tools we have available should be used,'' Mr. Dunkley said.

But Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Paula Cox was less optimistic about the idea of reopening the former prison.

"I'd be very surprised if the prison reopened,'' she said.

"There were a number of issues as to why Casemates was closed and the cost of renovation is obviously a factor.'' Ms Cox said she agreed with "the ends but not the means'' of Mr. Perinchief's suggestion, expressing more interest in the Alternatives to Incarceration programme currently being discussed.

"We need to make prison less of a soft option and reduce the rate of recidivism,'' she said.

"People think it is a bit of cozy stay.'' Chief of Prisons Edward Dyer refused to comment when contacted by The Royal Gazette .

Michael Dunkley