Prison officers returned to their regular duties at Westgate Correctional Facility yesterday as a sit-out by prisoners continued.

An unknown number of prisoners, primarily those arrested in the Operation Cleansweep drug sting, have refused to sleep in their cells in protest of their treatment by the judicial system.

Meanwhile prison officers -- who refused to escort prisoners to appointments outside the prison on Monday -- resumed such duties yesterday.

Deputy chairman of the POA Mahdee Shabazz said the Association was not yet prepared to make a public statement.

But representatives of the Prison Officers Association are expected to meet Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer today over a number of grievances, some of which are believed to be linked to being outnumbered by prisoners as a result of Operation Cleansweep.

The ratio of prisoners to prison officers at Westgate is 48 to one.

Mr. Dyer yesterday told The Royal Gazette he met prisoners to hear their concerns. He added that while the prisoners involved in the sit-out were not hostile, he hoped that they would end their protest action soon.

"I met with them and they're just deliberating some choices,'' said Mr. Dyer, who confirmed that initially 32 prisoners were involved in the protest, but did not know how many continued yesterday.

"They're suggesting that there's probably some conspiracy in the way they were handled, primarily the guys from Cleansweep. They say they can't get bail and they think this was a decision taken before they went to court. I told them I'm not in a position to answer any of that or any other issues connected with that.'' However, Mr. Dyer said he was willing to "represent their thoughts'' as they requested to Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira.

"But I told them the Minister does not have any jurisdiction over that area,'' he added. "I'm not going to be conducting an inquiry or anything. I will be sharing with Dr. Terceira what I have learned up here today. I really have received no information that is new to what I've been told by my senior staff. But they wanted me to directly hear it.'' Dr. Terceira, who noted that prison officers handled the sit-out "pleasantly'' through Monday night, said he was willing to meet with POA representatives after their meeting with Mr. Dyer, if it was necessary. But he agreed with Mr. Dyer that their concern about bail was "purely a judicial matter''.

"It's not the responsibility of the Prison Service or Minister of Health,'' Dr. Terceira said. "Naturally we don't interfere in such matters.'' Asked whether any disciplinary action would be taken against prisoners and/or prison officers, he said: "That would have to be looked into by the Commissioner of Prisons. Then if he makes a report, he would send the report to the Treatment of Offenders Board, the Minister and Permanent Secretary.''