The Government pays out $96,000 per year to a consultant agency for the National Drug Commission (NDC), said the Health Minister.

told the House of Assembly on Friday that the NDC has a one-year contract with Twin Ministries Consultancy, who are not on NDC?s payroll, at a cost of $8,000 per month or $96,000 per annum.

?Twin Ministries Consultancy has been contracted to implement, and bring into operation an NDC initiative ? the Women?s Treatment Programme and Residential Facility,? said Ms Minors.

?Twin Ministries Consultancy is presently implementing an on Island residential programme which will provide treatment and relapse prevention training to women with alcohol and substance abuse problems through a wrap-around programme dedicated to habitation and rehabilitation conducive to developing and maintaining alternative, healthy, drug-free lifestyles.

?The programme is being built on accreditation standards from its inception.?

When asked by , how the contracts are obtained and the process by which outside consultants apply, Ms Minors said: ?Twin Ministries was instrumental in the problem analysis and identified a modality which would meet the gaps in the treatment system.

?Therefore, they had the knowledge and a good appreciation for how to move forward.?

The contract was awarded on that basis, she said.