three weeks.

Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess will finally take the wraps off how the new court will look in a special joint announcement with the National Drugs Commission.

The Royal Gazette can reveal that the NDC will then launch straight into a public education campaign to explain exactly how the court will work.

And it has emerged that one of Bermuda's top businessmen has already been appointed to oversee the development of the drugs court plan.

Mr. Burgess confirmed last night that he was considering a range of recommendations from the NDC.

The detailed blueprint for the court will be unveiled once NDC Chairman Mansfield (Jimmy) Brock returns to Bermuda from holiday.

The grand announcement is being scheduled for the first week in September.

It is understood the court, which could be open as early as next spring, will be given its own sentencing powers and will refer offenders directly to treatment programmes.

Convicted drug offenders will have their criminal records wiped clean if they pass through rehab programmes.

A National Drugs Commission spokesman would not reveal details of the final proposals last night.

But he said: "There will be a major announcement coming shortly and that will permit things to move forward.

"We are in the process of putting the pieces together and we are in the final stages of identifying an implementation team.'' The chairman of the implementation committee, who will co-ordinate the drugs court project, has already been chosen.

Mr. Burgess confirmed he was now making final decisions on the proposals.

He said: "I have the recommendations and final decisions will be made soon.

"The recommendations encompass a whole myriad of inter-department activities and we now have a specially-designated NDC contact who will co-ordinate the development of the plan.'' The project will finally come to fruition after a year of consultation with US-based experts.

A five-member team from American University made their last of three visits to Bermuda in January to conduct a final study into the plan.

The specialists looked at Bermuda's Police system and judicial structure before filing their own report to the NDC.

DRUGS DGS