Williams, speaking in an interview on Thursday with Caribbean Net News, said he has been told that his life could be at risk if he enters the prison and as a result has decided to take precautions.

"Instructions have been passed by the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons not to allow me to enter the prison because my life is at risk, so it seems as though I have a clear cut case for a firearm user's license,"   said Williams.

"If the Deputy said that I am not to be allowed there for my own protection I have a clear cut case. I would usually go there to get my facts right," added Williams.

A few weeks ago, prisoners staged a violent protest at the Golden Grove maximum state prison in Arouca, east Trinidad saying they were being treated inhumanely and beaten by prison officers during random prison cell searches. The Prisons Authority later denied ever using excessive force on inmates.

The issue caused some strain in relations between the Prisons Officers Association and the Prisons Authority, with Prison officers calling for more protection. The officers later staged a sick-out.

Things were later said to have calmed somewhat following the incident when Prisons Commissioner John Rougier intervened, causing rioting inmates to stand down. It is still being reported that tension is high among the parties, including prisoners.

This however has been denied by the Prisons Association, which said officers were trickling back to the job of manning the prisons.

Some weeks ago inmates tried to burn down the prison after some were reportedly caught with weapons, marijuana, and cellular phones inside their cells.

The illegal items were believed to have been smuggled past the prison walls by a small group of rogue  prison officers.