the number of drug abusers seeking treatment.

And the chronic shortage of beds at the Salvation Army's in-house Harbour Light treatment centre was highlighted this week when two drug offenders in Magistrates' Court said they would remain on remand to await placement rather than face a likely prison sentence.

Nelson Bascome, the outgoing Programme Director for Harbour Light, admitted there was a need for "a complete treatment system'' on the Island which had not been pursued by the "past Government''.

"We are busy and there are a few persons that are on remand that are requesting to enter our service,'' he told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"In the last two weeks I've gotten about five individuals waiting to come into treatment.'' And Major David Golding, Harbour Light's executive director, agreed it was difficult to keep up with demand.

"We just don't have enough beds,'' he said. "It takes an individual anywhere from four to six weeks to complete the programme.

"...What we are finding is that there are more people now who just want to get in the programme.'' Mr. Bascome suggested that part of the recent surge of interested persons could be attributed to the changing season.

As the weather gets colder, people decide to "get off this stuff and get right,'' he explained.

The Harbour Light facility has a ten-bed facility, but also utilises another 12 beds on Parson's Road for overflow.

And Mr. Bascome said although numbers varied throughout the year, there was always a "constant flow'' of recovering drug abusers.

The years 1997 and 1996 recorded totals of 43 and 55 participants, respectively.

Mr. Bascome tendered his resignation from the service soon after he was named Health and Services Minister to avoid a conflict of interest. And advertisements have already appeared in local newspapers seeking his replacement.