The shooting of yet another prison guard on Sunday night could spark fresh action among prison officers, including the shutdown of the Port-of-Spain prison.
Otis Johnson of El Socorro was shot moments after leaving the Frederick Street prison, Port-of-Spain on Sunday night, according to early reports.
Up to late Sunday night, prisons officials said Johnson would undergo emergency surgery and remained hopeful that he would survive.
General secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA) Gerard Gordon said they are praying for Johnson's family and for a speedy recovery.
But fed-up prisons officers told the T&T Guardian that Johnson's shooting could be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel's back, as they are considering shutting down the prison.
The Association had already said on Friday there will be no further talks until all their safety and security demands were met.
At the end of their 10 pm shift on Sunday night, after Johnson was attacked, heavily armed prison officers escorted their colleagues to their cars.
When the T&T Guardian arrived at the prison, a marked police vehicle was on standby, and officers reporting for duty were seen entering in prison vans with heavily armed officers.
Officers at the prison said Johnson had been threatened and was considering an early retirement after the Friday afternoon killing of prison officer Andell Primus.
The 27-year-old guard was shot three times in the head by gunmen, thrown out of his vehicle, and left for dead at Red Hill, Morvant. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.