The chairman of the Eliza Doolittle Society is concerned about the lack of facilities for the mentally challenged in Bermuda. "St. Brendan's does not have a permanent structure for someone who does not want to co-operate. If a patient doesn't or can't follow rules they discharge them."

Margaret Vaucrosson hopes to start a drop-in centre for those suffering from a mental illness that require a permanent place to stay. "Initially, we are attracted to those living in the streets," she said. "We hope to set up a facility where everyone would be welcomed with any type of problem. Ideally, we would need some emergency housing were we can set up beds. We need to find a building that can accommodate that. We also need to have storage lockers for people's personal items. That's what I visualise as a drop-in centre."

Ms Vaucrosson believes that Government is doing its job but the judicial system could develop an alternative to incarceration.

"Supposedly, they're in the process of developing the system and Government has sanctioned it. To my knowledge it is not really up and running."

She said: "Government can't do it all ? we must have community initiatives. It has nothing to do with politics. It's a community situation that has to be addressed and right now it is not."

She expressed concern over a recent story run in about a Supreme Court judge wrestling over a decision of placing a mentally challenged man in prison or St. Brendan's.

Cyril Tucker, 60, was convicted of breaking and entering and had previously been kicked out of St. Brendan's for not following rules. St. Brendan's officials requested not to have Mr. Tucker back at their facility.

Assistant Justice Archibald Warner decided to send him back to St. Brendan's.

Ms Vaucrosson suggested first looking to the family members of Mr. Tucker or approaching Hope Homes, who deal with extreme mental cases.

"But if he can't obey rules it is very difficult for anyone to deal with him. St. Brendan's should locate a permanent structure for him.

"Mr. Tucker is probably not conforming to anything and jail will make him conform. It becomes part of the social welfare system."

The drop-in centre is an ultimate goal for Ms Vaucrosson, who also hopes to establish a food chain.

"Retailers, wholesalers, and restaurateurs are very willing to participate, but would like it to be co-ordinated. We are prepared to do that."

The food chain would essentially feed the hungry across the Island.

"We have every hope that it will be up and running this year."