Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton is confident threats of further strike action by prison officers have been averted by speeding up reform in the service.

But the Prison Officers Association (POA) warned that despite "positive and refreshing talks" on Monday with Mr. Horton, industrial action was still a possibility if reforms did not come quickly enough.

Speaking after the official opening of the Caribbean and UK Overseas Territory Mutual Support Conference, Mr. Horton told The Royal Gazette he was happy that any immediate strike threat had been lifted.

"We had a meeting with the Prison Officers Association. It was a productive meeting and we discussed some of the immediate areas of concern," he said.

"We agreed a review of management that will begin next week and we also agreed the terms of reference of the review."

But despite the obvious thawing of relations between the two parties, Mr. Horton was keen to express his frustration at the timing of the POA's latest return to the headlines.

"I'm disappointed that they are not here," said Mr. Horton in response to the POA's unanimous vote not to support the international conference, which began yesterday with 27 overseas delegates at the Grotto Bay Hotel.

"And I take clear exception to claims that time and effort put into staging this event could have been spent on issues here.

"It is these sort of conferences that seek to improve the administration of correctional facilities."

He added, however, that he was confident that there would be no disruption to the conference by prison officers either at the conference hotel nor during visits to facilities over the coming two days.

Mr. Horton also said that a recruitment drive, needed to replenish a diminishing workforce, was on its way, although he was unable to offer any details.

POA spokesman Russ Ford welcomed the "new urgency" Mr. Horton had brought to the Ministry, but remained adamant that, despite this week's progress, there remained a groundswell of disquiet in a service which is still calling for Prison Commissioner John Prescod's head.

Prison officers went on strike at the end of April and into May to demand Mr. Prescod be sacked for his "autocratic" management style and alleged failure to carry our recommendations of a board of inquiry held in 2001.

Mr. Ford has cited "all-time low morale", record breaking staff resignations in 2003, limited training, lack of communication from senior management and inadequate security as the key problems facing the service.

"We were called to a meeting with the Ministry on Monday after their attention was attracted by this week's headlines," Mr. Ford told The Royal Gazette.

"We sat down and had very direct, open, positive and refreshing dialogue. Mr. Horton is moving the process into a higher gear.

"We are pleased that he is showing greater urgency to want to have these matters resolved.

"The meeting came as a surprise to us and we are pleased with some of the progress being made.

"But even though we agreed on terms of reference and the review of senior management there are still a number of issues that need to be resolved.

"And we are still unhappy with the timing of this conference. You do not invite someone into your house if your home is not in order."

But Mr. Ford said that the POA was not planning to disrupt the conference in any way, nor would there be any protests during visits to correctional facilities.

"We are going to treat the delegates with the respect and dignity that visitors to this Island deserve," he added.

"We are not going to disrespect the conference but I am sure on their visits they will see for themselves that things are not all they are cracked up to be."

He added that although the union was "acting responsibly", the threat of further strike action would remain until reforms were complete and the "sense of frustration among our members" dissipated.