The Prisons Officers Association has tentatively welcomed Government's renewed interest in mentally challenged prisoners.

But psychologists say the plans are not good enough and more needs to be done to ensure the human rights of these prisoners are not infringed upon.

Both groups were responding to a mention in the Throne Speech about the "implementation of a Mental Health Treatment programme" and to decriminalising persons with mental health challenges.

In addition Government promised a Juvenile and Family Treatment system to provide therapeutic treatment for families.

Craig Clarke, Chairman of the Bermuda Prison Officers Association, said he was pleased Government was addressing the issue, but would wait to see what happened.

He said: "It is notable that Government has said they will put greater emphasis on the mental health of inmates at the West End (Westgate) where we currently have 28 inmates who have some form of mental illness and at the Eastern End (prison farm) we have ten inmates who are mentally challenged.

"The POA records show that we average around 40 inmates who have mental health issues. This is something the POA has called for several years ago and it is apparent that Government has begun to listen and is taking the necessary steps to address the needs of our inmates.

"It is of particular importance to the POA as this proposed initiative dates back to the Board of Inquiry of 2001 that stated a forensic unit needed to be built to separate the inmates who have mental health issues from the general populations."

Mr. Clarke added that the Officers are not trained in dealing with these inmates, but are always professional and he suggested more case workers would help.

Right now the ratio of Case Workers to prisoners is about one to 50 whereas in other jurisdictions it is one to 25 while the prison has just hired two more psychologists.

He added: "The caseload for the psychologists and caseworkers will still be overwhelming but the more that we do for inmates in this regard the better chance they will have on surviving on the outside."

The issue of mental health and prisoners was raised in July this year when 28-year-old Lorenzo Robinson, a schizophrenic hung himself in his Westgate Cell.

A ruling from Chief Justice Richard Ground on the conditions Robinson was kept said he needed treatment in a secure psychiatric unit of a type Bermuda does not have.

He also urged Governor Sir Richard Gozney to consider sending Robinson for treatment overseas. Efforts were underway to achieve this at the time of his death.

Psychologist Carol Shuman said what happened in the case of Robinson's death and the announcement in the Throne Speech did not take into consideration human rights or the bigger picture.

She said: "The issue in my opinion is greater than one programme. First what is Bermuda Government's attitude to human rights?

"There is no excuse for what happened to Lorenzo Robinson, no humane excuse whatsoever. There is a basic mentality that needs to be changed and in my opinion it starts from the top. However, like in the US where its citizens finally showed readiness to demand change, it has to be demanded by Bermudians.

"It would be nice if elected officials would be morally cognisant and do it on their own, but experience shows otherwise."

She added: "I believe that an elected Government which has to face the responsibility of dealing with law and order is likely to be more sensitive to and respond more swiftly to events."