The organiser of a Somerset youth camp has spent thousands of dollars as a result of having no permanent facility.

Gerald Fubler told The Royal Gazette it was becoming expensive to run the camp without a facility.

He explained that he had to pay for food, transportation and some materials for almost 200 youngsters in the camp.

And while he could not give an estimate of the funds he has spent over the last couple of years, he said it was becoming "desperate'' for a home for the youngsters.

Mr. Fubler, along with some 20 Somerset parents and youngsters, marched on Parliament last Friday to demand a site at the former Canadian naval base in Somerset.

They handed Youth Minister Tim Smith a petition with more than 1,000 signatures.

And the parents stressed that they needed a youth centre immediately since most students were about to begin their summer vacation.

The group has viewed the number two building at the main entrance of Daniel's Head as "ideal'' because, Mr. Fubler said, it was sound proof and away from negative influences.

Parents have also stressed that they need a location which will serve as a place for young people to enjoy fun, safe, productive, and educational activities.

They said they were tired of Government's "unkept promises''.

But Mr. Smith said Government had offered the group the use of four different locations.

He said the group had turned down Somerset Primary, Sandys Secondary, Government's community centre at Boaz Island, and the Masonic Hall at Mangrove Bay.

Somerset parents, however, stressed that schools in the Somerset area were not conducive to the sporting and recreational needs of children.

They added that the Boaz Island location was too small and the Royal Naval Field was a known drug dealing area.

But Mr. Fubler denied they had turned down the Masonic Hall as a possible site.

He said he had not yet visited the site and believed its future use had not been determined.

Mr. Fubler said he was prepared to settle for a smaller building at Daniel's Head.

"I'm pretty desperate now. I'm not going to wait for that building,'' he said referring to the number two building at the entrance of Daniel's Head.

"I'm looking at something else smaller at Daniel's Head. I'll take that for now. Because if we do not get a building soon, our next move is to go to play volleyball at Camden.

"People are offering me all kinds of equipment. But I have nowhere to put it,'' Mr. Fubler added.

He said he planned to contact Mr. Smith soon and set up a meeting with him.

Asked how he had managed the camp without a facility for the past week, Mr.

Fubler said: "I have them from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. training in cricket at the Royal Naval Field, and they will be kayaking at Daniel's Head in the afternoon.

"But what are we going to do on rainy days?''