editor Mr. David White for his assertion that the party was "soft on drugs.'' During the Motion to Adjourn in the House of Assembly on Friday Shadow Human Affairs and Information Minister Ms Renee Webb asked why there was this "continual barrage'' of anti-PLP sentiment from the daily paper when it came to the issue of drugs.

She said her party was concerned about the increasing numbers of young Bermudians who were using drugs and she questioned who the editor was trying to protect.

"Who really is behind the drug trade,'' she asked. "Who is profiting? Who really is making the money? It's not the members on this side of the House.'' Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan , however, later defended the editorial criticising the PLP's stance on drugs. "There is a thread of truth in it,'' he said.

Sir John said the Opposition had in the past given wrong signals to the community by pledging to produce PLP reports on drugs and crime -- and then failing to deliver.

In her attack, Ms Webb said there was a litany of ills society was forced to cope with as a consequence of drugs including black male alienation and crime.

Moreover, she said the daily should do some "investigative reporting'' and ascertain why people did not feel part of the system.

"A responsible news organisation would do that,'' she declared. "We take exception when our members are accused of being soft on drugs. I don't think for a minute that this is the case and I don't think the people believe it or 47 per cent of the population would not vote for us.'' Ms Webb said drugs damaged society in many ways but "this editorial style of writing does more damage.'' She said that the PLP had always advocated other solutions to the drug menace and accepted that those on drugs had to acknowledge a measure of responsibility for their actions.

"But we in the PLP, by no stretch of the imagination are we soft on drugs.

Legislation alone will not change behaviour. This has not been the case in the past or will it be in the future.

"...legislation does have its place. We're not making excuses we are simply saying that there is a much larger picture we must look at to end the scourge of drugs.

"This does not mean we are soft on drugs.'' Ms Webb then went on to praise they two young panelists who spoke at a recent Beyond the Barriers forum that also feature African National Congress member Dr. Tim Wilson.

Meantime her PLP colleague and Shadow Minister responsible for Youth Sport and Recreation Dr. Ewart Brown , also attacked the Royal Gazette editorial which was critical of his stance regarding the Report of the Board of Inquiry into drug use in soccer.

Dr. Brown said: "I expect pigs to oink. That which comes from pigs is oink.

The Royal Gazette reminds me of pigs' language.'' The Premier chipped in:"Do you mean the editor of The Royal Gazette is a pig?'' Dr. Brown said his party already recognised that drug use was on the increase every since the UBP assumed control of this country.

"It has happened on the UBP watch,'' he said. "But we would never say the UBP was soft on drugs. The world and the globe is struggling with the drugs problem.

The Shadow Minister said it was more important to find out what was in people's minds before they began abusing drugs.

"To suggest it is linked to the softness or hardness of a particular party on drugs is at best immature (at worst) just plain nasty.'' Dr. Brown heaped praise on the producers of "Reality Street.'' He called the production as far "beyond the norm'' and said the entire production was a special insight into life in Bermuda in the past 30 years.

He said it took a hard look at drug use and abuse and he called on Government to find the money so that every school child could see it.

Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess said the PLP contributed to the perception that they were soft on drugs because they tended to blame the "system'' instead of encouraging people to take responsibility.

He said the key to combating drug use was to instil a "sense of purpose, direction, and self esteem.'' Mr. Burgess said the absence of self esteem was a prerequisite for persons who got involved with drugs.

Mr. Ottiwell Simmons (PLP) said Bernard Park had been allowed to lapse into a deplorable state.

He said the park was built by many people who lived in the area and it needed proper lights and some park benches to spruce it up.

Mr. Simmons said he believed Government had turned a blind eye to the conditions that existed at Bernard Park because it was in a black community.

The BIU president chastised the Transport Minister for ignoring the increased traffic congestion which was scaring tourists because each vehicle was a "lethal weapon.'' Mr. Simmons said it appeared that the owners and managers of hotels and the tourism department were not cooperating.

Citing the decrease in tourist arrivals by some 10 per cent, Mr. Simmons said something was wrong since the hotels had reported a $5.3 million profit last season and had benefited from major concessions from Government.

Minister of Youth Sport and Recreation the Hon. Pamela Gordon said she would be willing to look at the possibility of financing the play "Reality Street'' for Bermuda's youth and she asked her PLP counterpart to show her the preliminary budget he had worked out.

Turning to Bernard Park, Ms Gordon said it was designated a recreational park not a leisure reserve.

Accordingly, it did not have any park benches because that was not its purpose. Instead it was for people to use to play games such as softball or volleyball but she would ask the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to look into ways to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said Bernard Park was in an untidy state and needed work. He said there was nothing wrong with there being a bench or two at the ground.

He said Bermudians habitually sat in their cars, often blocking the road because there was nowhere to sit.

Mr. Wade then lashed Government for using public money to fund its Independence campaign.

"I don't know what they are selling but they should tell people about all their options. How they can vote or abstain.

"Government should use UBP funds to sell their position not the people's money...it is wrong to have debates with public funds. The UBP's own supporters should fund their own propaganda campaign.

Mr. Wade also criticised the Premier for making a "political speech'' from the podium on Bermuda Day which was not the proper forum.

Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill defended Government's planned Independence campaign.

"Government is not engaged in the dissemination of propaganda,'' he said.

"We have not done that in the past and we will not do it in the future. We are just trying to educate the public on an issue of fundamental importance and significance.'' He said self determination was the fundamental principle on stage during the August 15 vote.

Mr. Dill said that Government was doing nothing different from what was done in 1990 during the capital punishment referendum.

But this was the first time the PLP was asking its supporters not to vote.

He said it was important to note that the Independence referendum was not a "UBP'' referendum because it was brought to the house with legislative approval from the caucus.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness said it was the democratic right of all eligible Bermudians to vote and it was not Government's position to tell them how they should vote.

Mr. Edness said Mr. Wade was wrong to criticise the Premier for making a political speech because he said he has heard Mr. Wade on a number of occasions, including Labour Day, make political speeches.

"I regard the promotion of these position papers as the most important thing in a long while,'' he said. "If Government had decided not to do this they would be criticised for not having informed the public.'' Mrs. Lois Browne Evans (PLP) said The Royal Gazette was wrong to say the PLP was soft on drugs when she and other PLP members have been speaking out against drugs back when the problem was just confined to "soft drugs.'' She said that in her own practice as a lawyer she refused to take drugs cases and that PLP members had and still did contribute to PRIDE and its sister groups.