Prison Commissioner John Prescod went in alone to face inmates who barricaded themselves into the remand unit at Westgate for 24 hours during the prison officers' strike.

A prisoner who took part in the protest told The Royal Gazette the Commissioner went into the remand unit on his own - telling three officers in riot gear and two others in uniform - to wait outside.

Half an hour later, the 28 remand prisoners abandoned their barricade and agreed to go back to their cells after Mr. Prescod said he would begin implementing their demands.

Remand prisoners who were locked up for 22 hours a day are now let out for five as a result of the protest, the source claimed.

The former prisoner said the protest on April 30 was sparked after up to eight Police officers allegedly beat up an inmate who was preparing to go to court.

The prisoner claimed a Police officer who had originally arrested the man for possession of cannabis snatched a cigarette from his mouth as he prepared to go to court, causing it to bleed.

The inmate pushed him out of the cell but up to eight Police officers returned and assaulted the inmate, kicking and punching him and twisting his limbs, the prisoner alleged.

At lunchtime, the remand inmates - already angry over a series of unmet demands - decided the attack was the final straw and refused to return to their cells after they were given food in a communal area surrounded by cells.

They barricaded themselves inside the unit, using tables to block the doors, and held out overnight despite threats that the Bermuda Regiment and riot Police would be sent in.

The remand prisoners - who were awaiting trial and had not been convicted - demanded more free time than the two hours a day they are let out of their cells. They also wanted more than two sheets of writing paper a week.

The source said prisoners complained that medical care is inadequate and they cannot get to see the prison psychologist; they can only call loved ones in dire emergencies; they have difficulties getting access to their lawyers; and prison staff don't know how to communicate with them.

After finishing their food late in the afternoon, the prisoners covered the security cameras and 28 blockaded themselves inside the unit with two going back to their cells, the prisoner said.

They hung a bed sheet out of the window with the slogan "All We Want to See is Prescod, Not War."

The prisoner said that around 6 p.m. Prison Officers Association president Michael Tuzo and "about 150 officers" came to the remand unit to try to get them out, but they refused to budge until they saw the Commissioner.

As the security cameras were blocked out, the only way the prison officers could communicate with the inmates was by telephone.

"Our only defence was to barricade ourselves in. Once we were barricaded in, we asked to see Prescod," said the former prisoner.

"It was like seeing a whole village coming towards you to harm you or take you away, and the automatic reaction is self-defence.

"The prison officers kept calling us and trying to intimidate us, saying they were sending in the Police or sending in the Regiment, but we were not giving in because there was unity."

At one point, the officers tried to get three or four inmates to give up the barricade and come out and talk, but the prisoners refused saying they wanted to speak directly to Mr. Prescod.

"Prescod then called the remand unit and asked to speak to me and asked me what was wrong. He said the officers had not explained to him in detail what had happened (with the alleged beating)," said the former prisoner.

"When I explained to him, he said he would come directly, but he would only come if we uncovered the cameras.

"Prescod told the riot guys and other officers to wait outside and he came in alone. We put a semi-circle of chairs around and he sat down and talked with us.

"Prescod had everything resolved within half an hour. He communicated with us and gave us his word that there would be no repercussions for the actions. He gave us his word that we would have at least five hours (out of their cells) a day and that has been implemented.

"He handled it very professionally and extremely well. He asked us if we wanted food and we said we wanted to talk first, then we would eat.

"During the whole time, the fire alarm, which is controlled by the officers, kept going off when we were talking to Prescod.

"Prescod was calm and he never said anything about the officers even when they were making all that noise with the fire alarms.

"The prisoners have respect for Prescod because he is trying to implement the reforms. Very few of the officers speak to Prescod, but he said it doesn't make any difference, they can speak to him if they want."

The prisoner said he informed Mr. Prescod that one inmate who had his privileges taken away from him for six months had been kept in segregation for four months.

In segregation, prisoners are supposed to be released for just one our a day, but at Westgate, inmates were getting only half an hour out of their cells each day, said the source. Loss of privilege usually meant getting just one visit a month, said the prisoner.

"I brought this situation to Prescod's attention and the guy was out the next day. Prescod told him that was illegal."

Prison officers went on strike for four days to try to get Government to sack Mr. Prescod, whom they accused of being authoritarian and failing to implement recommendations of an independent review into the service.

Government refused to sack the Jamaican, but said he will have to implement all the reforms and meet Premier Jennifer Smith every three months to update her on progress.

Neither Mr. Prescod nor Bermuda Police Service returned calls for comment.