advertising blitz.

In a large ad in today's Royal Gazette , the United Bermuda Party outlines Government's National Drug Strategy.

Polling and canvassing has shown that drugs and related problems like opportunities for youth and the Island's incarceration rate are foremost in the minds of Bermudians, UBP executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons said.

In the run-up to the general election, voters would periodically see other "party positioning statements on key issues facing Bermudians,'' he said.

Policies on crime and rehabilitation, the environment, and jobs and equality of opportunity would also be featured, he said.

The UBP sees management of the economy as the top issue, because only through economic success could Bermuda have the funds to combat drugs and other social problems without going into debt, Mr. Gibbons said.

Although no election has been called, the UBP recently unleashed a flood of newspaper, television, and radio advertising, as well as direct mail, to get its message out.

But Mr. Gibbons said he had not heard criticism. "I think money that is being spent is money well spent. Bermudians must understand the issues in this election.

"When we go to the polls in this election, we are making very, very critical and difficult decisions as to how we want Bermuda to develop, because we are really at a crossroads.'' PLP campaign co-chairman Mr. Terry Lister has said the election would be won on the doorsteps, not through advertising.