Westgate prisoners could be released early to combat overcrowding, Government revealed yesterday.

Inmates may also be forced to share cells, said Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira.

"We will be considering various options at a meeting (Thursday),'' he said.

The $40 million prison has been swamped by a flood of people arrested in Operation Cleansweep, the Police blitz against drug dealers.

One prison officer told The Royal Gazette this week that Westgate's remand area had become packed.

It meant alleged dealers remanded in custody were moved to maximum security, he said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he also revealed several inmates were moved to the Prison Farm to make room for those arrested in the operation.

Some 23 people have so far been remanded in custody in connection with Operation Cleansweep. And Police anticipate further arrests.

The operation launched three-and-a-half months ago involved American Drug Enforcement Administration officers and videotaping of alleged deals.

Prisons Commissioner Ed Dyer has been off the Island and unavailable for comment.

Yesterday Dr. Terceira said he had spoken to Acting Commissioner Marvin Trott over claims of space problems.

He added he would be meeting this morning with Mr. Trott and Permanent Secretary for Social Services, Donald Scott.

"It's really a numbers game and a question of where we are going to put inmates.

"Obviously we cannot put those on remand with hardened criminals.'' Dr. Terceira said there were 32 places in Westgate's remand section.

"At the moment we are doing a juggling act. We can find space in the Prison Farm and there is also room at the Co-Ed Facility.'' Dr. Terceira said he would be discussing today the possibility of early release for some prisoners.

"If they are due to be released in a few weeks or a month we may consider early release to relieve space.

"But they would not be completely free. They would have to report to a probation officer until they have completed their sentence.'' Dr. Terceira said doubling up in cells was another option.

"I would prefer one prisoner per cell. I don't want to return to the situation at Casemates, where we had four or five per cell.'' Westgate -- which replaced Casemates -- was built to hold 208 prisoners, the majority of which have been housed in 144 medium security cells.

Thirty-two cells are for maximum security inmates, while an identical number are for remand prisoners.

GOVERNMENT GVT