And they herald the launch of a major fund-raising drive next year to combat the scourge.

Six of the signatures were by charity chiefs who vowed commitment to the effort. Their charities will spearhead the fund-raising under the banner of The Council Partners. The other two signatures were from leading lights in the anti-drugs effort.

Included was a representative of the National Drug Commission (NDC) -- Government's major weapon against the problem.

Yesterday's Global House ceremony formally made The Council Partners the NDC's fund-raising arm. It was attended by new Human Affairs Minister the Hon.

Jerome Dill.

Said Mr. Dill: "I am very pleased that the parties to the agreement in principle have signed.'' He added it was a "watershed step'' in the battle against drugs.

Mr. John Riihiluoma signed for the NDC's interim steering committee. Also putting her name to the agreement was The Council Partners' Campaign chief Mrs. Katherine Kempe Watson.

Other signatures were from: Mr. Cole Simons, The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Mrs. Patricia Lynn, Fair Havens Christian Care Association; Mrs. Sandy Butterfield, Focus; Mr. Dave Cardell, Lions Quest Programme; Mrs. Maria Davis, Business Against Drugs; and Mrs. Pauline Richards, Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education.

Under the agreement, The Council Partners will raise money for anti-drug programmes.

Such programmes are aimed at preventing substance abuse, treating addicts, and educating people.

Funds will be targeted under guidelines set out by a joint committee.

The committee will be made up of people from the NDC and The Council Partners.

Mr. Dill said the agreement marked a "structured, coordinated effort between the private and public sector in tackling this heinous problem.'' "Specifically it addresses two major concerns raised by the donor community -- the identity of groups working in the field of alcohol and drug abuse and their relationship with Government, and the perceived duplication among those groups in their efforts to raise funds.

"We now have the vehicle to conduct one fund-raising campaign that is characterised by accountability.

"All organisations participating in the campaign will produce business plans that are results-oriented.

"In the final analysis, the war against drugs becomes legitimised to the donor community.'' Mrs. Watson said: "We are delighted to be working with the National Drug Commission.

"Our agreement goes a long way towards forging a critical partnership between the work that Government is doing and the work that local volunteer organisations are doing.''