The Prison officer's union was tight lipped last night as the 21-day strike deadline approached at midnight in their dispute with government over the tenure of Prison Commissioner John Prescod.

Prison Officer's Association Chairman Michael Tuzo hit back last night at comments made by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Terry Lister - which suggested the POA was acting in bad faith.

Mr. Lister accused the association of not returning telephone calls or setting meetings, but Mr. Tuzo said they were completely unfounded, and detailed contacts with the Ministry.

Mr. Tuzo said the members had met, but decided not to say whether they would strike at this time.

They claim Prison Commissioner John Prescod is autocratic and had failed to implement key recommendations out of the 2001 prisons board of inquiry into problems in Bermuda's correctional system.

Mr. Tuzo said: "We have always been willing to come to the table and talk, but Mr. Prescod is not willing to listen. A decision has been made by the members, but we will not to reveal it until they say. Since the past interim commissioner Edwin Wilson was in office, there had been nothing done in the way of implementing recommendations.

"But in the past week attempts have been made by Mr. Prescod to put other recommendations in place."

Mr. Tuzo continued: "Mr. Lister's comments accuse the POA acting in bad faith not returning telephone calls and not meeting with Ms Arlene Brock, but I had met with her before April 7 to discuss how we were going to mediate and also on inquiry recommendations," said Mr. Tuzo.

"The Permanent Secretary then withdrew Ms Brock and she was replaced by Larry Burgess who was to be the new mediator.

"He (Mr. Lister) was also accusing us of refusing to set up meetings, but Mr. Burgess and I have been in contact.

"I went to the Labour Relations Office to meet him and when I couldn't find him I went to the ministry to set a meeting time. The ministers statements were completely incorrect," Mr. Tuzo added.

The POA issued a strike notice after passing a no-confidence motion against Mr. Prescod and complain that that he had failed to implement 23 of 35 recommendations made following a Board of Inquiry into the service in 2001.

Mr. Lister has said a court injunction against a strike is "always a possibility".

Turn to Page 4 for the full text of the Prison Officer's Association press release.