Commissioner of Corrections John Prescod, and Assistant Commissioners Marvin Trott and Randall Woolridge will all be removed from their posts as of July 31, Public Safety Minister Randy Horton announced, yesterday.

And Government is bringing former Assistant Commissioner Hubert Dean out of retirement to fill the post of Acting Commissioner of Corrections for six months, until a permanent replacement can be found.

The Review Panel presented its final report into the goings-ons at the troubled Department of Corrections seven weeks ago. The report recommended the early termination of Lt. Col. Prescod's three-year contract, a move prison officers have been demanding, citing the Commissioner's "autocratic" management style. Lt. Col. Prescod's original contract was not up until May, 2005.

The report also recommended the removal of Mr. Trott and Mr. Woolridge, a recommendation which met with concern from the prison officers as it left all the top posts at the department vacant.

Speaking on the floor of the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr. Horton said he passed the report on to his permanent secretary, Robert Horton, who had the responsibility of deciding which of the six recommendations to implement.

"At this juncture, it is important to make the point that I as Minister can have no direct involvement in staffing matters of any Government department," Mr. Horton said. "That responsibility falls within the remit of the permanent secretary."

Mr. Trott and Mr. Woolridge will receive pensions and other emoluments, Mr. Horton said, and Lt. Col. Prescod's contract allowed for the termination of his services with a minimum of three months' written notice before the last day of service.

Two persons from overseas have been tapped to fill the void, Mr. Horton said, not four as recommended. The Ministry has initiated contact with overseas jurisdictions to find the necessary individuals, including a human resources specialist to fill one of the two positions.

However, he added, it has been determined that it will take six months to put those people in place. "Therefore ... Mr. Hubert Dean, who retired from the post of Assistant Commissioner within the Department of Corrections two years ago after some 14 years in the post, has agreed to accept the post of Acting Commissioner ... for a period of six months in the first instance," Mr. Horton said.

"(He) will be assisted during this interim period ... by three Acting Assistant Commissioners who will be selected from the current senior ranks of the Department of Corrections. There will be a public announcement regarding the remaining members of the senior administrative team during the days ahead."

Mr. Horton expressed his gratitude to Lt. Col. Prescod, Mr. Trott and Mr. Woolridge for their service.

"It is to be regretted that circumstances mitigated against (Lt. Col. Prescod's) ability to fulfil all the terms of his contract and to realise even his own expectations. We extend to him best wishes for the future.

"Mr. Trott and Mr. Woolridge are to be commended for their 36 years' and 31 years' service respectively in the Department of Corrections. We wish them well in their future endeavours."

The Minister said a lot of thought had gone into those decisions. "I am also confident that the difficult relationship that has existed in recent times between the senior administration of the Department of Corrections and the Prison Officers' Association will improve dramatically," he said.

POA head Michael Tuzo declined to comment on the matter yesterday, saying he will hold a Press conference next week. Neither Lt. Col. Prescod nor Mr. Trott nor Mr. Woolridge were available for comment yesterday.