the family unit.

And some 100 people attending a forum, hosted by United Bermuda Party's Pembroke West Central branch at Northlands School, heard that the implementation of programme to help youngsters learn and develop positive life skills has faced roadblocks by Education civil servants for more than five years.

One of the four panelists at the forum and chairman of the National Drug Strategy's Interim Steering Committee Mr. Alastair Macdonald revealed that despite support from Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons, the teachers' union, and "many'' school principals, little progress has been made on the programme introduced by the Lion's Club.

Mr. Macdonald told the audience, which included politicians from all parties, drug addiction professionals, and concerned parents, only one school had implemented the programme.

He called on the Education Ministry to implement the programme by September.

"If we don't get those life skills programmes in place, we're going to have to make a lot of noise,'' Mr. Macdonald said. "So I would like to put the civil service on notice. We need their support.'' Mr. Macdonald said the committee also need the support of Government who it was seeking $1.2 million for the next year.

And, he said, it was looking to businesses, the churches and the rest of the community to do their part.

Fairhavens -- a treatment facility recently set up for addicted women -- was in need of $200,000, Mr. Macdonald added that this worked out to less than $2,000 from each church.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness, who was also a panelist, stressed that Government was committed to dealing with the drug problem.

Mr. Edness also said civil servants had accepted expanding the lifeskills programme.