for Bermuda. There can be little doubt in anyone's mind that Bermuda deserves the best and that ranges from politicians to people's health.

It is very clear that Bermuda has a serious problem with both drugs and alcohol. Drugs are killing people and could kill the Country. Alcohol is more widespread and no less dangerous. We need the best we can get in terms of treatment for those people with alcohol and drug problems. At the heart of that is the need for the best in counselling services.

For over ten years now Bermuda has dithered about trying to decide on certification for addiction counsellors. It has no certification requirements now. The problem is that no-one has the guts to decide that those people who are now in the field but unqualified should no longer be allowed to counsel.

Right now just about anyone can hang out a sign and take in "clients''.

The unprotected public is often in a bad position of being treated by unqualified people and having to pay for the treatment because health insurance companies, correctly, do not cover unqualified counsellors. Early on, no standards were set and because of that we have only a handful of qualified people and many others who think they have a right now to stay in the field. It may be that we should certify only those who are covered by the insurance companies.

There was a time when no-one, no-one, at Government's Addiction Services was a qualified counsellor. The people at Addiction Services, no matter how dedicated, were there with only the briefest of introductory training. Yet no one was willing to tackle the vexed question of certification because Government did not ask for any.

Finally the National Drug Commission decided about two years ago to appoint a sub-committee on certification. Now there is a move to have an association of certified addiction counsellors for Bermuda.

But it appears that we are about to agree that those people in the field who do not have the theoretical background are going to be allowed to stay in the field. That's bad news for the public which often assumes, quite logically, that if you are allowed to practise then you must be qualified. It may also be that those counsellors who hope to stay in practice will be looking to be covered by insurance under a kind of grandfather clause. That would be a grave mistake, even if it would be easier financially on the clients.

It seems extraordinary that in Bermuda we do not allow unqualified people to treat the ailments of our dogs and cats but we are willing to allow untrained people to mess with other people's heads.

The National Drug Commission is now exploring the idea of a "minimum level'' of counselling qualifications. In other words, Bermuda is getting ready to certify people who are not qualified. We do not do that with motor mechanics.

What Bermuda needs is the maximum level.