Fifteen new officers will start work with the Department of Corrections today, the Minister of National Security revealed.

Wayne Caines made the announcement yesterday as he acknowledged concerns about safety and a lack of manpower that were raised by the Prison Officers Association.

Mr Caines said that while the department was 39 officers short, 15 new “basic” officers would start tomorrow, “essentially boosting our ranks”.

He added: “Further recruitment will continue over the coming months.”

His comments came after Timothy Seon, president of the POA, told ZBM last week that staff shortages and budget cuts meant programmes had been delayed or cut, which had led to “disgruntled inmates”.

He said: “If you have disgruntled inmates, you’re not going to have a safe environment. The truth of the matter is, they allow us to run those facilities.”

Mr Caines acknowledged safety concerns at the Westgate Correctional Facility in Sandys.

He said he had met with the Acting Commissioner of Corrections and her team last week to put together a plan to address the problems.

Mr Caines added: “I would have shared that plan with the chair of the Prison Officers Association but he did not attend the meeting, when he agreed to do so.”

He pledged to continue working with the Acting Commissioner, the senior leadership team and the POA to ensure that “the Department of Corrections and all its facilities are safe, secure, and measure up to international standards and best practice and are fit for purpose”.

Mr Caines said he was also aware of inmates’ concerns and added that “earlier this week we met with the Ombudsman and the Chairperson of the Treatment of Offenders Board to ensure that inmates are treated humanely, that they are aware of all the tools, services and options available to them, and that their concerns are addressed in a timely manner”.

Mr Caines said a facilities management consultant had also been hired to address problems with corrections buildings.

He added: “We plan to conduct a comprehensive structural review of all Corrections facilities which will include a plan and a timeline for corrections building repairs in the very near future.”

Mr Seon also described attempts to have prison officers pay into the Government Employee Health Insurance fund as “an ongoing attempt to reduce officer’s benefits”.

Mr Caines said he could not speak to GEHI matters “as this is currently part of ongoing discussions between the POA and the Public Service Negotiating Team”.