The Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre was operating with less than its full quota of correctional officers, forcing its staff to work on double shifts, Commis-sioner of Corrections June Spence-Jarrett confirmed yesterday.

Spence-Jarrett said a total of 14 correctional officers were employed at the St Ann facility, but some were on vacation up to the night of the May 22 fire. She also told the commission of enquiry into the incident that 18-20 officers were necessary to adequately monitor the institution.

The commissioner, who began her testimony last Friday, yesterday pointed to several other deficiencies in the correctional system. She said there were eight teachers for the four juvenile institutions in the island and, up to May 22, there was one teacher at Armadale.

Double duties

That teacher also doubled as a welfare case manager and, when it was suggested that the teacher found these roles burdensome, Spence-Jarrett responded that "she did not complain to me".

The commissioner maintained that the teacher had volunteered to take up the second job.

"She assisted because she wanted to gain the experience also," said Spence-Jarrett. However, when Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, the attorney representing the Office of the Children's Advocate, said the teacher was asked by Everton Hesson, the director of juvenile services, to fill the post, Spence-Jarrett said she had no knowledge of that.

The enquiry resumes today.