Two government ministries are at odds over a proposal for the distribution of condoms to inmates in the country's penal institutions.

A week ago, Minister of Health, Horace Dalley, endorsed a call from the National Aids Committee for condoms to be made available to inmates as part of efforts to help combat HIV/AIDS in prisons.

But the Ministry of National Security, which is responsible for prisons, has frowned on the suggestion.

In a statement, the Ministry made it clear that there will be no change to its existing policy which prohibits the distribution of condoms to inmates at any of the institutions administered by the Department of Correctional Services.

The Ministry says any change would first require a thorough investigation of current conditions.

	Explosion of HIV within the prison...can…[wreak] great havoc…[on] the communities from which the prisoners came and the country overall.

The Ministry of National Security says a meeting is being sought with senior officials of the Ministry of Health to discuss the issue.

RJR News understands that the meeting will be held before Friday of this week.

The idea of condoms being distributed to inmates is not new.

A similar proposal was made nine years ago by then Commissioner of Corrections, Colonel John Prescod.

However, it triggered riots at the St. Catherine and Tower Street Adult Correctional Centres resulting in 16 inmates being killed and 40 others injured.

In the meantime, Head of the Department of Correctional Services Major Richard Reece says calm has returned to the island's prisons.

There were reports that prison unrest was looming following the Health Minister's call for condoms to be distributed.

This resulted in the Department of Correctional Services implementing additional security measures to prevent a recurrence of the 1997 prison riots.

Major Reece told RJR News Tuesday night that his Department has quelled tension among inmates.

And former prison doctor, Raymoth Notice, is suggesting that the Ministry of Health be given a greater say in the issuing of condoms in prisons.

Dr. Notice, who was formerly attached to the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, is also urging the Correctional Services Department to change its attitude towards the issue. “The Ministry of Health must take full responsibility in having any form of educational program which regards to AIDS and in at least introducing some initiative to prevent the explosion of HIV within the prison, which consequently can…[wreak] great havoc…[on] the communities from which the prisoners came and the country overall.”