The "NIMBY'' syndrome is preventing the Island from opening its first drug recovery centre.

Despite plans to set up the National Drug Commission's "after care'' facility for recovering drug addicts by the end of last year, Human Affairs Minister Jerome Dill yesterday told The Royal Gazette Government was having difficulty securing a venue.

"The only difficulty we've had is in securing a venue,'' he said. "The amount of not in my backyard syndrome (NIMBY) in this community you won't believe.'' However, Mr. Dill noted that Premier Pamela Gordon has issued a directive that the facility be placed on an "emergency, fast-track basis''.

"It is clear that just as Government has had to step up the enforcement side (of dealing with drugs), Government must equally beef up the treatment side,'' Ms Gordon said in a special broadcast and newspaper insert this week.

And while Mr. Dill could not say when Government expected the drug recovery facility to open, he said: "It is the ... number one priority of mine and also a very high priority of the Premier.'' "I would rather not speculate (on the location) at this stage,'' he added, "because I don't want to jeopardise our chances of securing a venue.'' Last September, Mr. Dill told The Royal Gazette he hoped that the facility would open later that year.

Then in January, he said the drug recovery centre should be up and running in the first three months of the year.

He added that Government was looking at a number of options and no decisions had yet been made.

The Royal Gazette last year reported that the former residence of the Royal Naval Commander's executive officer -- The Bungalow -- was being eyed as the site for recovering drug addicts.

But members of the Friends of Dockyard committee, which was formed to revive and further develop the Dockyard, opposed the idea.

The group, including Independent Sen. Alf Oughton, had launched a campaign called "Dockyard into the next millennium'' and potential investors were understood to be voicing concerns about Government's plans.

They were also opposed to Government's plans to turn Clarence Terrace, near Westgate Correctional Facility, into a halfway house for prisoners.

That facility is scheduled to open at the end of this month.