Government has no plans to decriminalise any drugs, it was emphatically stated in the Senate yesterday.

And Government Senator Milton Scott said, if there ever were any such developments, he could be counted on to resign.

He was responding to comments from Senate Opposition Leader Maxwell Burgess , who said the delay in the implementation of a drugs court indicated that Government's stance on various illicit drugs was wavering.

"This is the first real indication that we've had showing us that Government is trying to make up its mind about whether to decriminalise certain drugs.'' "Of course, it would be premature to implement a drugs court if we don't know which substances are going to be illegal in the near future and it doesn't seem like they'll make a move until they come to grips with that decision.

Sen. Burgess said the fact that Government Senator Calvin Smith still maintained his post after suggesting Bermuda take a look at decriminalising marijuana was an indication that at least one other person in Government agreed with him.

And he called on Government to "come clean'' as to what its motives are in determining its stance on drugs.

"The NDC should be told not to waste their time if Government is going to continue going forward in this grey area.

"They need to be resolute as to which drugs are going to be illegal and which ones aren't.'' But Sen. Scott said: "Government does not have plans to decriminalise any drugs.

"Don't try to score political points on this one because it is not on the agenda. And if it was, I can tell you my resignation would be on the table immediately.'' Opposition Senator Kim Swan also took the opportunity to express his views on the subject, criticising Government for reducing National Drug Commission's grant by around half a million dollars in last month's budget.

"The NDC's arms are wide and they embrace the entire community,'' he said.

"A cut of that much is a big pill to swallow.'' "If there's something better on board to receive the money then I'm all ears to it, but I don't think so.'' Sen. Swan also called for better fiscal management within the Health and Social Services Ministry.

"We're talking about a huge ministry which measures the pulse of the entire community,'' he said. "There's no reason why there can't be an internal auditing control mechanism to make sure money is being spent on the right things.''