Assembly on Wednesday night that Casemates would be re-opened.

Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira shot back at the suggestion made by Shadow Minister of Youth Development, Sports and Recreation Nelson Bascome during the Motion to Adjourn.

Mr. Bascome said he had glanced through the report by the Treatment of Offenders Board, which had been tabled that morning, and noticed it recommended: "Prisons should consider re-activating Casemates for inmates with mental or other criminally insane disorders.'' The old prison had not been knocked down yet and there was no mention of any plans for it so perhaps the plan was to use it to house inmates again, said Mr. Bascome.

And if this was the case, then it was a far cry from other reports that said Bermuda should move away from incarceration, he exclaimed.

It seemed as if Government was not going to take that stance and was looking to extend its incarceration facilities instead.

He said he hoped it would not re-open the facility in any shape or form.

But Dr. Terceira replied: "No way are we going back to Casemates.'' Not only would it cost a lot of money to repair and outfit it again, he continued, "It is a dreadful place.'' It was one idea in the report he did not agree with, he stressed.

And increasing incarceration was not "in the cards,'' he added.

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