Health and Social Services Minister Harry Soares yesterday told The Royal Gazette that a report on the state of Bermuda's prisons was prompted by a debate between those who wanted more prison officers and those who argued for a more efficient deployment of existing staff.

In its findings the PRET team discovered: "Part of the perceived understaffing problem is caused by more sick leave being taken now than was previously the case.'' The study concluded that officers were taking, on average, 17 days a year of sick leave, about twice what would be considered acceptable in other organisations.

The report adds: "Sick leave was expected to diminish after the new Westgate prison was opened and Casemates, where working conditions were substandard, was closed. Instead the opposite has happened. It is clear that during the last three years the amount of sick leave being taken has almost doubled.'' Most of the increase according to the PRET report, took place in 1995, the year immediately following the opening of the Westgate facility and were a result of: An unusual number of maternity leaves and other traditional reasons for being absent from work; Stressful working conditions causing stress related illness and; New rules instituted at the time Westgate was opened entitling staff up to 63 days of sick leave annually.

The report recommends some "fairly simple'' changes in sick leave entitlement including medical certification of those claiming time off due to illness and the use of a "sick leave inspector'' who would audit some sick leave claims.