Protest action by prison officers caused some delays in the courts yesterday morning.

The officers refused to escort prisoners from Westgate Correctional Facility to the daily session of plea court in Magistrates' Court and monthly arraignments in the Supreme Court.

Both Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira and Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer admitted that the action caught them off guard. But they noted that prison officials were able to manage the situation with little disruption.

Senior officers transported inmates to the Supreme Court. But five inmates, who were unable to appear in Magistrates' Court, had their cases rescheduled.

Dr. Terceira said Mr. Dyer, who returned from overseas on the weekend, was seeking a meeting with representatives of the Prison Officers Association to discuss "some issues that needed to be clarified''. Dr. Terceira said neither he nor Mr. Dyer knew what the issues were about.

And Mr. Dyer was none the wiser when contacted yesterday afternoon.

Explaining that he was unable to reach the POA's chairman Lynn Hall, Mr. Dyer said: "I will try to meet with them again tomorrow to find out what the issues are.'' Prison procedures "went off reasonably well today'', he added.

When asked whether the prison was prepared for further disruptions today, Mr.

Dyer said: "I'm anticipating that it was just today (Monday). But not being able to speak with anyone in authority from the POA, I have no idea what the plan is. Whatever the case we're prepared in the event that we have to do the same thing tomorrow.'' No one from the Prison Officers Association could be reached for comment yesterday.

But the protest action came on the heels of reports of overcrowding at Westgate, largely due to arrests made during the joint local Police and US Drug Enforcement Agency drug sting -- Operation Cleansweep.

Last week, Dr. Terceira admitted that prison officers had to work under very stressful conditions.

But he said every "reasonable'' option would be pursued to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

Dr. Terceira explained that this included: Giving early release for some categories of local inmates; Using the Police Service, instead of prison officers, to conduct all court appearances; Releasing and deporting all foreign nationals after they reach the half-way point of their sentences; Hiring temporary prison officers; and Seeking supplementary funding for video conferencing for court mentions.

Meanwhile, both Dr. Terceira and Mr. Dyer were also investigating a report of an alleged beating of a prisoner at the Co-ed Facility.

The incident was believed to have occurred last Saturday when a prison officer saw a visitor passing something to an inmate.

Dr. Terceira said, according to reports so far, the prison officer interceded and there was an altercation with the prisoner.

The prison officer was believe to have been slightly injured. He called in sick yesterday morning.

But the prisoner was not injured.