Wade furious over `Hijacked' prison tour all In a story on Saturday concerning a tour of the new prison it was incorrectly stated that Mr. Custerfield Crockwell took part in the tour.

Opposition MPs accused Government of causing a stir in the new prison in Dockyard yesterday.

Progressive Labour Party leader Mr. Frederick Wade was furious when he believed United Bermuda Party candidates had hijacked his party's tour of the prison.

But Minister of Works and Engineering the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto says the trip was planned for convenience of officers and to cause as little disturbance as possible to the work on the prison.

Mr. Wade was at the prison early yesterday with a party of PLP MPs including deputy leader Mr. Walter Roberts, Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox, Shadow Health Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome and Sen. Ira Philip.

When he spotted Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto arriving with her party at the site of the replacement for Casemates, Mr. Wade became angry.

He said: "We organise these weekly trips during the summer to places around the Island. It is a way of getting the views of our members and finding out about the place.

"Other places we have visited include the former Canadian facility, Wedco, the Maritime Museum and City Hall. We want to get the feel of the land.

"I do not know what is going on today. We were supposed to be touring with the Minister now all these people have come along.

"If the Government was having a tour of the site I am certain that we would not have been invited along.'' Mr. Wade then confronted Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and told her that he was disappointed to see candidates like Mr.

Custerfield Crockwell, Mr. Ted Gauntlett and Mr. Ed Bailey at the prison.

He asked that the tour be split into two separate groups stating: "They must go another way. I do not want to see them.'' The Minister agreed and took the PLP members on a tour ahead of the other group. She was accompanied by the Government's Superintendent for the site Mr. David Butterfield and Commissioner of Prisons Mr. Ed Dyer.

Later Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said: "I was surprised. We were having a tour and quite a lot of people wanted to see the prison so I invited them along. It was only for convenience's sake so we did not have to disturb the workmen again.

"Every time we organise a tour it means we have to get the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary along.

"I think it was all sorted out in the end when we decided to have separate groups.'' JUST VISITING -- Government superintendent of the new prison site Mr. David Butterfield explains the set up in part of the prison to, from left, Sen. Ira Philip, the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, Mr. Frederick Wade and Mr. Nelson Bascome.