with an emergency general meeting planned for Tuesday.

Prison Officers Association spokesman Russ Ford said action would be "spontaneous, quick and decisive'' and that the meeting would go ahead regardless of any move made by Public Safety Minister Paula Cox or Prison Commissioner Ed Dyer.

"We're going ahead anyway,'' said Mr. Ford. "There's nothing they can do to stop us. Outstanding issues have come even more to the fore.

"Our responsibility is to look out for ourselves and to ensure the integrity of the service is not completely demolished.'' And he said action would go further than last year's dispute where prison officers refused to take inmates to court.

Mr. Ford said: "We want to do something a bit more substantial, but I am not going into details.'' The meeting at the Bermuda Industrial Union on Tuesday evening will also cover unhappiness about: The slowness of the Prison authorities to make decision on who will be promoted; The lack of any emergency response team; and Security measures.

Asked whether a vote would be taken on the action, Mr. Ford said: "That depends.

"I think we're looking at a consensus based upon what we need to push forward. At certain times you must take the initiative to do things.

"The Prisoners Officers Association won't stand by and wait for a vote in order to act.

"We will move forward in the best interests of the association. We'll take the bull by the horns.

"We are not a dictatorship but we won't stand by and wait while people waffle. Things need to get done.'' He said demoralisation of the staff had meant members stayed away from meetings making a quorum impossible.

Ms Cox said she was unaware the prison officers were to meet.