Government Senator Calvin Smith said in Senate yesterday.

And Opposition Senator Mark Pettingill expressed his "bewilderment'' at the delay in the installation of the promised scheme.

But Government Senator Milton Scott noted that organising the scheme was not something that could be done in a "matter of months''.

"We have a five-year plan on where we want to take the country,'' he said, "and we are committed first and foremost to implementing a drugs court.'' Drugs court delay fuels heated row in Senate Sen. Scott's comments came after Sen. Pettingill blasted Government for "putting the proverbial cart before the horse'' in focusing on drug treatment programmes rather than changing the "rock bottom legislation'' which allows the courts to send offenders into them.

"I'm stunned that it's being shoved off like that,'' Sen. Pettingill said.

"I thought the drugs court was paramount on your agenda.'' "It doesn't make sense. Now its become a five year promise and next it'll become a thirty year promise.

Sen. Pettingill noted that his experience as an attorney had given him first-hand knowledge of the effects that drugs can have on people.

"Many of these offenders are good people,'' he said, "but once they get caught up in it all they can't help themselves and they can't be trusted.

"The drugs court is fundamental in tackling the drugs problem and, let me tell you, if drugs use goes down then you are going to lower the crime rate.

Sen. Pettingill described how he was forced to go through "mental and legal gymnastics'' routines with Magistrates when he was trying to have a client who committed a drug related crime sent off for rehabilitation rather than incarceration.

"The current legislation does not support these programmes as alternative sentences,'' he said, "and you just have to wait for some one to come along and appeal these decisions for the Magistrate to change the sentences.'' Sen. Pettingill continued: "I did a double take when I heard the drugs court was going to be postponed because Government promised it in October.

"You've got to be kidding me if you're saying that it's going to be put off for even longer.'' In response, Sen. Scott said the organising of the entire alternative sentences scheme, which includes the drug court, was not any easy feat.

He said: "If anyone thinks you can get all of the considerations for this type of thing in order in a matter of months then they are mistaken.'' Sen.

Scott explained Government had been trying to find a site for the drugs court's dedicated detoxification centre.

"We have been to neighbourhoods all over the Island,'' he said. "Everyone agrees that its something Bermuda needs but no one wants it in their backyard.'' "But sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and make a decision, regardless of the political fallout.

Sen. Scott said: "We made a commitment to implement the drugs court and we will be going ahead with it.'' Bewildered: Mark Pettingill