hosting a parliamentary seminar designed to educate and inform local MPs of their role as Parliamentarians.

Such seminars are regularly held throughout the Caribbean, but this is the first time Bermuda has invited the CPA to conduct the seminar here, said a Government spokeswoman.

A spokesman for the CPA's local branch added that last year's selection of several new MPs made the timing of the local seminar ideal.

Senate president Alf Oughton and House Speaker Stanley Lowe will co-chair the seminar which opens at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Bermuda College's North Hall Lecture Theatre.

The three-day event will feature a number of invited overseas dignitaries including St. Lucia's Speaker of the House of Assembly Matthew Roberts, UK House of Commons MP John Marek, Zimbabwean MP Chris Kuruneri, New Brunswick Legislative Assembly Clerk Loredana Catalli Sonier and CPA Secretary General Arthur Donahoe.

Seminar discussions will focus on the following issues: Parliamentary democracy's evolution and Bermuda's Constitution; Commonwealth development and the history of the CPA's role; Parliament, democracy and civil society; party organisation within the Parliament; house business; Parliamentary committees; the Presiding Officer's and Parliament staff's role; Ministers and their relationship to Parliament, and Parliament's financial supervision of the Executive; MP's ethics and accountability; Parliament and human rights; and Parliament and the media.

SPECIAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH WORKERS DGS ED Special training for youth workers Schoolchildren will be better equipped to face the temptation of drugs after an innovative programme designed to help youth workers.

A host of professionals, from teachers to church officials, have received special training to help them educate youngsters about challenges in life.

The Lion's Quest Life Skills Programme aims to equip people who have contact with children, right through to senior school level, with the tools to disseminate information to their charges.

Drugs in society form a core part of the scheme, which was held at the Sonesta Hotel this week, along with other obstacles that youngsters will face.

Janette Musson, education officer for life-skills and career education, said the workshops aimed to show people how they can work with children to achieve results.

"The purpose of the programme is to provide young people, through the curriculum, with skills that are going to make sure they equip themselves for healthy decision making, particularly in the area of drugs and abuse,'' she said.

"Skills that are presented can be geared throughout their levels, for example they learn about communication skills and interpersonal skills such as resolving conflict.'' With drugs, she said, youngsters are told in no uncertain terms that they should be avoided, whether legal or illegal.

Teacher Mark Collins said the course gave teachers hands-on experience to be able to relate to their students.

The skills are taught by interaction with children, not by traditional teaching methods.

"Where we would normally read, listen and learn, we would have an activity that is fun for everybody involved,'' he said.

With drugs, he added, youngsters would take part in an activity which would demonstrate the affect taking narcotics could have -- for example throwing balls between a group.

"They would be able to see the negative effects without dictating to them,'' he said, "to see for themselves, so it is more realisation.''