The National Drug Commission (NDC) faces losing the financial backing of the Council Partners Charitable Trust (CPCT) unless key areas are addressed, The Royal Gazette has learned.

This paper understands that included as pertinent issues are the lack of leadership in the NDC and severe gaps in staffing; ineffective performance at the Bermuda Assessment and Referral Clinic (BARC); no apparent commitment to accreditation of agencies; and the lack of a National Drug Plan.

Earlier this month, the NDC was criticised for having virtually no staff with the exception of three administrative assistants. However, NDC chairman Malcolm Butterfield downplayed the claims and told The Royal Gazette that the agency was on solid footing.

"We are going through challenging times...all organisations go through cycles," he said at the time.

At an upcoming board meeting of the CPCT, chairman Henry Smith is expected to outline his concerns.

The Royal Gazette understands that he is willing to work with the NDC, which the CPCT has shared a strained relationship with in the past, in order to help the NDC to fulfil its mandate to providing strategy and programmes concerning drug treatment and prevention, although some members of his board have suggested that the CPCT part ways.

This paper has also learned that Mr. Smith intends for comprehensive research into some of the problems the NDC is having in order to ensure that the money they are receiving is being used effectively.

It is believed that if the NDC and its agencies do not have a successful plan of action, the CPCT will have no choice but withhold funds, although it is understood that Mr. Smith feels that course of action would be counterproductive.

It is understood that some of the things which the CPCT would like to see from the NDC include definitive roles within the health system and agencies running effectively and becoming accredited.

It is expected that representatives from the CPCT and the NDC will meet in the future to work on these resolutions.