Government is considering setting up its own alternative to defunct prison rehabilitation charity Work Inc.

The organisation, set up to find work for recently released inmates, advised Government in October it was no longer operational and Government stopped its $125,000 grant.

Yesterday Health Minister Patrice Minors said: "We are trying to put some other type of thing together to provide a similar type of service."

She said Government would rather not get into the management of that service but had not heard that the Work Inc. board were intending to revive the organisation.

The organisation, set up in April, 2001, ran adrift because it was unable to secure contracts from firms wanting workers said Mrs. Minors.

But she said the door was not closed on Work Inc. if it regrouped and made a viable application. She said work had not started on the Work Inc. alternative as her department is busying itself in making sure organisations it funded gave value for money.

Around a dozen get funds from her Ministry including drug agencies and handicapped and teen organisations.

Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley has called on Government to say why the National Drug Agency (NDC) was still getting money.

Mr. Dunkley said he supported the Health Minister's bid to ensure Government's largest spending Ministry got full value for money.

He said: "There's a huge amount of money wasted in Health. The NDC is a prime example. There are millions of dollars in the budget but we don't have accountability. That should be one to look at."

The NDC, which oversees Bermuda's drug abuse prevention and treatment had its budget cut by $1,135,000 in February and was awarded $2,858,000.

However, Mrs. Minors said the organisation had a purpose and was getting back to full strength.

NDC CEO Dr. Don Philip could not be reached for comment.