BLAME IT on the boss.

That's what Prison Officer Terry Small did yesterday, before presenting a special report to a Commission of Inquiry into an insurrection at Glendairy Prisons two years ago.

Small, a temporary warder since 1997, told the commission the actions of Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Lieutenant-Colonel John Nurse, led to the prison being destroyed March 29, 2005.

"Accountability is very important regarding this Inquiry," Small said. "People should be responsible for their actions, and I believe his actions led to the fire," he said of the superintendent.

"He removed the dog off the yard. He removed the prison officer with the weapon."

"And what about the second day? (March 30). When I left at 1:45 a.m., everything was secure, and there were armed personnel on the compound," Small testified.

"The question has to be asked why the prison was burnt on the second day."

He said he was on sick leave on March 29 but on hearing about the disturbance at the prison, he donned a uniform and reported for duty after being given permission by the superintendent.

But Small still questioned the attitude of the acting chief.

"He thought and acted like he was dealing with soldiers," he said when cross-examined by Nurse's attorney Michael Beckles. "It was like going up against a brick wall."

Small said Nurse had even threatened to dock money from warders' salary for calling in sick in 2003, but they had sought legal advice and the chief dropped the charges.

He claimed a number of officers had been victimised by the acting superintendent, who had raked up old charges after their success in getting the initial charges dropped.