has planned for the upcoming month.

In May, as part of the Heritage Month tributes, the NAR is calling on all in the community who believe in the power of prayer to engage in a month-long effort directed at ridding the Island of the scourge of illicit drugs.

NAR spokesperson Dr. Eva Hodgson said that while the negative effects of the problem mostly affect the black community, she felt the two races could unite in the effort.

"Drugs have resulted in so many negative consequences including violence, robbery and thievery,'' she said.

"Although it impacts primarily on blacks, I hope that whites who believe in prayer will be willing to join with blacks who believe in prayer to look to the elimination of the consequences of drugs.'' Dr. Hodgson said the drug problem "reinforces the racial divide'' and expressed hope that the month long prayer observance would help to change that.

In a letter to the Editor, Dr. Hodgson said:"We believe that prayer can do great things, especially if we unite as one. For this reason NAR asks that you encourage your congregation to make Heritage Month a time that we collectively plead for relief from both drugs and their resulting crimes.'' Dr. Hodgson also urged all those who plan to participate to alert the NAR by calling their offices at 293-2423.

NAR is also planning to continue a series of public meetings asking blacks how they feel they can better improve relations between themselves.

The series is currently running through the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality and Dr. Hodgson said the NAR will continue the work when that series ends in early May.

She stressed the importance of delving into the matter noting that the black on black prejudice is often more harsh than that received from whites.

The continuation of NAR's Richard Minors Scholarship begun four years ago is made possible by Belco Holdings Ltd. The scholarship is named after two men, Christopher Richards and Reginald Minors who both died at early ages.

"Christopher Richards had a very strong social consciousness,'' Dr. Hodgson said, "and Reginald Minors had a keen business sense. We felt they had values Bermudian children could look up to.'' In that vein, entrants for the scholarship will have to submit an essay on what they feel their social and personal responsibilities are.

The winner gets tuition paid for two years at the Bermuda College.