Health Minister Nelson Bascome said he was totally in the dark over rumoured plans to close Camp Spirit - the Island retreat for hardcore drug addicts run by Focus.

Yesterday, the National Drug Commission (NDC), who fund the programme along with the Council Partners Charitable Trust (CPCT), said it was Focus themselves who had decided to stop having new clients until a review was completed.

And both the NDC and the CPCT voiced strong support for a reinvigorated programme.

New admittance for the programme was barred six weeks ago and only four people are now attending the three-month programme on Darrell's island in the Great Sound. On Wednesday reformed addicts united in protest over fears the programme could be in jeopardy.

Yesterday Mr. Bascome said: "No one has called me to say any type of closure is going to happen, temporarily or permanently. No report has come across my desk."

"I would hope that the Council Partners Charitable Trust which is the governing body over Focus will come forward with an approved statement that the chairman and Governing board has determined appropriate at this time."

Mr. Bascome said he understood there would be a review of the programme, which he said was doing excellent work.

He said: "They have got one counsellor who is providing a stellar service as well as a few volunteers coming in from time to time. I know it's probably very stressful to have one counsellor working at a time at the centre and not have the support that's necessary. Anyone running a business tries to ensure a proper level of support."

But Mr. Bascome stressed he didn't have any authority over what the Council Partners did. He said any work the ministry was doing for the CPTC would come through the National Drug Commission.

CPCT chairman Gordon Johnson said he could understand the fears of clients who had found the programme made the difference in helping them cure their addiction. He said: "We want to assure graduates of Focus and those seeking services in our community we deeply appreciate their concerns expressed in your paper today. We have a responsibility to our donors to ensure that quality client service is always on the forefront of our funding decisions. We view the programme audit initiated by the Focus board as a positive step in ensuring that the quality of services provided to our community can be maintained and or enhanced as appropriate."