Government has promised to improve conditions at Westgate today.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Randy Horton made the pledge after claims the prison was in a deplorable state.

On Friday reported that stressed-out staff were prepared to strike unless conditions were improved. They also want Government to address a number of issues including a succession plan and updated job descriptions for civilian staff. Many of the problems have been brought about by the water shortage.

According to a source, prison officers and inmates have been forced to go out to collect sea water for flushing.

After the article appeared Mr. Horton confirmed that several crucial areas in the prison were experiencing ?challenges?.

He promised to have Works & Engineering staff visit Westgate at the earliest possible time to address the water shortage and air conditioning concerns.

Mr. Horton confirmed that Westgate was experiencing maintenance problems since two air conditioning units that cool the officers? mess and four offices in the programme area were operating without air conditioning.

He said portable air conditioners and fans were being used until the Ministry of Works, Engineering and Housing was able to repair the broken units.

?The Commissioner of Corrections has agreed that until the repairs are completed, staff assigned to the programmes area may work flexihours and occupy space elsewhere in the facility,? said Mr. Horton.

The source told that repeat contact with the Ministry of Works and Engineering was unsuccessful and public servants or the Minister did not respond to the staff concerns about the deplorable conditions and the security risks of going out to collect water .

?I appreciate the efforts of all Correctional Officers and civilian staff who have had to work in these trying conditions, especially during the power outage.

?I have spoken today with my colleague, the Minister of Works, Engineering and Housing who has assured me that workers within his Ministry will visit Westgate at the earliest possible time, preferably Monday, in order to address the flushing and air conditioning concerns.?

He continued: ?I regret too that Westgate is experiencing a number of challenges associated with the current water shortage. Flushing is malfunctioning in three cell blocks, necessitating the use of portable toilets during the past week.?

Mr. Horton said he had been advised by the Acting Commissioner of Corrections Mr. Clarence Davis and Assistant Commissioners Merrill Cann and Clyde Wilson that staff were thanked at a meeting for the generally positive attitudes and commitment that they had demonstrated during the power outages.

Mr. Horton also spoke in response to comments made by Shadow Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, Maxwell Burgess, who raised the issue of a succession plan within the Department of Corrections.

?Our protracted and painstaking search for a highly qualified and appropriately experienced individual to provide support for Commissioner Dean and the Department of Corrections had borne fruit,? said Mr. Horton.

?Mr. Bryan Payling, until recently Area Manager in the West Midlands area of the United Kingdom, has been appointed to serve as consultant to the Department of Corrections for a two-year period with effect from 1st October, 2005.

?Mr. Payling will bring to the Department of Corrections the breadth of experience, range of knowledge and expertise, commitment and integrity that will assist the Department as it charts its course towards becoming a stronger, more goal-oriented and altogether more successful operation, one that will meet successfully the needs of both the Correctional staff and the inmate population.

Mr. Horton said the new consultant will help develop a training programmes for Correctional Officers, in addition to the identification and management of training opportunities overseas for them and the advancement of the succession planning process.

He also added that Prison Commissioner Hubert Dean enjoys a good relationship with staff and the Chairman of the POA.

?Although a small minority of staff may feel disaffected ? and this situation warrants our concern considerably. I am confident that the overwhelming majority embrace the mandate of the Department and are prepared to work with the Commissioner and his senior administration as the repairs are carried out.?