A Prison officer was commended by Commissioner of Corrections Bryan Payling on Thursday for her role in helping end a sit-in protest involving 21 inmates at Westgate.

Acting Principal Officer April Ming acted as a negotiator during the incident which began on the evening of August 16 in response to a prisoner who was not satisfied with his medical treatment and continued overnight.

Congratulating her, Mr. Payling said: ?She demonstrated a high level of skill in her dialogue with the prisoners and established a positive relationship with them, thus ensuring that the incident remained a peaceful one throughout the night.?

He explained that she paved the way for the protest to be ended without concessions to the inmates or damage to prison property. Divisional Officer Michael Christopher, who stepped in the following day, will also receive a commendation.

Acting Principal Officer Ming said said it had been a collective effort to resolve the protest.