hailed by Government as an "important benchmark in the fight against drugs''.

The women-only rehab was "a dream held on to for more than seven years'', said Mrs. Pat Lynn, president of the Fair Havens Board of Directors.

"Women are the cornerstone of the Bermuda family,'' she said. "If we can reach out and help our women re-discover their self-worth, we believe the entire community will benefit.'' After Lady Swan cut the ribbon to officially open the centre, Mrs. Lynn thanked Government for making drug rehabilitation a priority.

She said it had invested more than a quarter of a million dollars in securing a suitable building.

Recognising the need for a similar facility for male drug addicts, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said Fair Havens was "just the beginning''.

He noted efforts to locate a suitable building had been frustrated by public opposition.

Despite some public resistance, the St. Paul AME Church had agreed to lease Government a building next door and have the rehab "in its backyard''.

"This residential care centre for women, with its foundation solidly laid in the Gospel, will provide a major step forward in drug rehabilitation in Bermuda and will bring help and healing to a vulnerable part of the Island's populace,'' Sir John said.

Fair Havens is an apricot-coloured old Bermuda house with a balcony located on Victoria Street, just around the corner from one of Bermuda's known drug peddling areas.

But the Bermudian executive director of the facility believes its city location will give it an edge over more residential rehabs.

If a woman was going to be rehabilitated she has to learn to deal with her addiction in an environment where drugs were available, said Mrs. Gloria Cholmondely-Mills.

"You might as well be right there with the drugs instead of far away.'' The centre can accommodate up to 12 women and has counselling rooms and offices.

Those wanting to enter the ten-month rehabilitation programme will be screened and normally referred by Addiction Services or the Montrose substance abuse centre.

Mrs. Mills said there was a $50-a-day fee, but no woman who was serious about wanting to get better would be refused a bed.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness recalled how the idea for the centre was first conceived back in 1984 by a group of Christian clergy and laymen, led by Rev. Ray Hagerman, who returned to the Island for the opening.

They had met to discuss how they could help the community tackle the drugs menace.

Drug abuse was now a debilitating disease being inflicted on people nearly every day, he said.

Before the centre came into being, women who went before the courts had "no place to go'' to get help for drug addictions, except Government's two out-patient facilities.

"Fair Havens is an important benchmark in the fight against drugs,'' he said.

"It will not only assist people on the road back to good health, but it is an important tool in demand reduction.'' Mrs. Mills has more than 25 years experience in the field of rehabilitation.

She will be supported by two full time counsellors and two Bermudian interns and a band of volunteers.

Fair Havens will operate as in independent agency and registered charity. Mrs.

Lynn noted two donations which helped the "centre open its doors to recovery'': $50,000 from the Bank of Bermuda Centennial Trust and $29,000 from organisers of the Bermuda End to End Walk.

OPENING THE DOORS TO RECOVERY -- Lady Swan officially opens Bermuda's first women's only residential rehabilitation facility. Also pictured are, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan,, right, Fair Havens Board of Directors Mrs. Pat Lynn,left, and Health and Social Service Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.