Former Bermuda Regiment boss Edward Lamb can make it as Commissioner of Corrections despite his lack of experience says Acting Commissioner Bryan Payling.

The appointment of Mr. Lamb as Commissioner-Designate had led Prison Officers? Associationhead Craig Clarke to say recently there were ?mixed feelings? in the ranks as to whether the appointment was a good one.

Mr. Clarke had said it would take ?some time? for Lt. Col Lamb to get up to speed on running an effective regime and he would need to earn the respect of the officers.

Mr. Payling said he understood the concern but when asked if Commissioner-designate Eddie Lamb could be ready take over within just a year, Mr Payling gives an unhesitating ?yes?.

He said one of the significant aspects of his job was to help prepare Lt. Col Lamb to be Commissioner.

?Yes, it?s going to be a steep learning curve but we have put together a programme which will provide Col. Lamb with exposure to all aspects of corrections with a range of shadowing opportunities of people of various ranks within the UK Corrections and we are looking at training courses in the UK,? he said.

Certainly Mr. Payling, 60, has no plans to outstay his two-year contract, although he confesses to being somewhat surprised to be in the top job just a year after arriving as a consultant.

He said morale was high within the service according to a recent staff survey which showed pride in the job and ambition and he wants to capitalise on that with further training.

?That links in with concerns from the Prison Officers Association that we should have clear career paths and succession plans.?