They will control Government's main weapon against the scourge -- the National Drugs Strategy.

Chairman of the Drug Commission's board of directors is banker Mr. Alastair MacDonald.

Deputy Chairman is ex-teacher and Princess Hotel personnel manager Mrs. Sandra Bain. She is an Employee Assistance Programme counsellor.

The eagerly-awaited appointments were announced by new Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill.

He drove home the importance of the task facing the directors.

"Drug abuse is a cancer in this community which, unless checked, will slowly but surely kill us off as a healthy nation.

"Our economic prosperity, our educational success, the success of our efforts to better ourselves will amount to nothing unless we are able to stop the destruction which substance abuse carries with it.'' Mr. Dill stressed politics had not played a part in the appointments.

Winning the anti-drugs fight hinged on an Island-wide effort, he said.

Board members include: Bermuda National Trust member and Life Insurance executive Mr. Roderick Pearman; real estate salesman and Addiction Services volunteer Mr. Denton Outerbridge; chartered accountant and Financial Controller at Aardvark Communications Mrs. Janelle Pickett-Wesch; and former Medical Officer for the Police and Prisons Dr. Valerie James.

Also appointed were Employer's Council Assistant Executive Director and Fairhaven Christian Care Centre board member Mrs. Donna Harvey-Maybury; barrister Mr. Steven Morris; and pastor and former Montrose Substance Abuse Centre director Mr. Edward Richardson.

The other two appointments were First Bermuda Securities partner Mr. Maxwell Roberts and Fairhaven Christian Care Centre board member Mrs. Janine Lines.

Mrs. Lines has also been a board member of the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Mr. Dill explained how the appointments were made.

Seven members were appointed by the Governor on the advice of Premier the Hon.

Sir John Swan, who had consulted with the Opposition leader.

"Once those seven have been appointed, they themselves choose the remaining four members.'' Of the appointments, some were already on the National Drugs Strategy interim steering committee.

These include steering commitee chairman Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Outerbridge, and Mr. Morris, who works with Mello, Hollis Jones and Martin.

Mr. Dill said the appointments had been very carefully made.

"These eleven are the best people Bermuda has to bring to bear on substance abuse.

"I should like to congratulate them for having been chosen, and thank them for agreeing to serve.

"On behalf of the whole community, I offer them our support and best wishes for the very difficult task they have to perform.

"I don't think we envy them their task, but I do believe that they will find the community will give them all the support they would wish.

"I can certainly pledge that neither I nor my Ministry will leave any stone unturned in providing for them the help they need.'' Mr. Dill said Government was considering possible reform of the Drug Trafficking Suppression Act.

"Government is aware the Act is imperfect and needs looking at.'' He added the Liquor Licensing Act would also probably be examined.

Mr. MacDonald spoke of some of the board's initial taks.

It would consider setting up a drug treatment centre, caring for outpatients.

Cutting off the supply of drugs would also be examined.

The Hon. Jerome Dill