Government was again challenged to partake in drug testing and illustrate they lead by example at Bermuda Against Narcotics second street rally.

On Saturday, more than one hundred people came to St. George?s Square for the the second BAN rally in two months.

Imam Yahya Abdullah, one of the international guest speakers, chose to issue a challenge to the Progressive Labour Party: ?PLP, hurry up and get drug tested.?

?How can you advocate drug testing for the average person but you won?t lead by example? You are setting yourself up for failure and you don?t even see it. You are sabotaging your own legacy. You must start the reform at the top.?

Soon after Mr. Abdullah's rousing speech, which had many in the audience clapping and cheering, the Minister of National Drug Control spoke.

?I accept the challenge,? Wayne Perinchief said. ?We have a responsibility to lead by example. We have to come out of the denial that we are in. That we are better then everyone else.?

Mr. Perinchief also told the audience that he was proud to say he has already been drug tested.

The Minister further illustrated his commitment to ridding the Island of drugs and working with various groups already active in the fight.

?I have invited BAN to place a member of the group on the government?s steering committee,? Mr. Perinchief said. ?At a meeting on Thursday a woman asked me if the committee was full of ?suits? and I realised that I didn?t have any one from the street level on the committee.?

?I consider BAN on the street level because it is a grassroots group. They have agreed to select a member to join the committee.?