will soon be over.

That was the pledge yesterday of Prisons Commissioner Mr. Edward Dyer.

He said inmates in the new $40 million prison would be kept constantly on the go.

And in many ways they would find life tougher in their new quarters.

Mr. Dyer said workshops and in-house programmes would ensure prisoners remained busy.

"Their days will be full of activity,'' he added.

Mr. Dyer was keen to kill the notion the new prison would be akin to the Southampton Princess.

Although it would be modern, prisoners would not have life easy.

His comments came during yesterday's weekly luncheon meeting of Hamilton Lions Club.

Mr. Dyer was hopeful the new prison -- to be called the Bermuda Department of Corrections -- would open in the middle of next month.

It would starkly contrast with Casemates -- as different as "Noah's Ark'' with a hi-tech submarine.

The new prison, for instance, would be fitted with latest electronic gadgetry to beef up security.

But, more importantly, it aimed to return prisoners to society as better citizens.

Currently, the number of repeat offenders was as high as 66 percent, comparable with the rest of the western world. Mr. Dyer explained specific rehabilitation programmes would be tailored to individual prisoners.

"It is almost like a medical model, although I hate to draw such a comparison. We will aim to meet the needs of the individual.'' Mr. Dyer said the relationship between prisoners and staff would also change.

Staff had been undergoing intensive training to prepare for the transition.

The new prison would also allow inmates to be properly classified, added Mr.

Dyer.

It would avoid the problem of locking up someone who has committed a traffic offence with a violent offender.

"We have not been categorising people in a way which I believe is appropriate,'' admitted Mr. Dyer.

"We will be classifying people as they come into custody, and take into account the risk factor.'' But Mr. Dyer said a key to the future lay with encouraging bonds between the public and prisoners.

The play put on by prisoners at the City Hall recently had proved a tremendous success.

Dr. Dyer said he hoped to promote more interaction with the public. And he sent out a plea to organisations to help cement such links.

"The new prison will have a formidable wall to keep the inmates inside, but we don't want to keep the public away.''