over his appointment -- and shied away from the storm of controversy it has allegedly triggered.

Reports have ben rife that senior prison oficers are said to have reacted with "derision'' to the choice of successor to Mr. Milton Pringle. And the Prison Officers Association is understood to have given vent to its anger at a meeting at the Bermuda Industrial Union headquarters on Tuesday night.

But no-one from the association has been willing or available to comment, and last night, Mr. Pringle, who retires in two weeks, refused to be drawn into any wrangle.

But he did admit some appeals had been made for him to stay on.

Mr. Pringle also expressed personal dissappointment that Mr. Dyer had been reappointed to a position he held between 1978 and 1988.

"I have had a long and happy association with Eddie, but I would have preferred to see him going forward than back.'' Mr. Dyer, who has been Permanent Secretary of Health and Social Services, will take a salary cut from $91,902 to $87,942.

But yesterday he was buoyant about his new job, saying: "I most certainly do not see it as a step down.'' He said he had been approached about the job a month ago -- and accepted with little hesitation.

Mr. Dyer, who declined to comment on alleged controversy over his appointment, said he had been disappointed at the pace of change of prison reform. "...I would like to see us move faster towards good correction rather than secure incarceration.'' Mr. Dyer said the public had several legitimate concerns about the prison system, including Troy Shorter's escape from Casemates.

Mr. Edward Dyer.