Harsh penalties do not stop drug abuse, says National Drug Commission chairman Mr. Mansfield (Jim) Brock. And it is impossible for any country to seal its borders against illegal drugs.

Mr. Brock told a meeting of the St. George's Action Group on Tuesday about a trip he recently made to Singapore. "The penalty for drug trafficking in Singapore is death,'' he told about 150 people who turned out for the first public meeting of SGAG -- a community group to fight drug abuse. While in the Asian country, "I talked to the head of the drug programme and I visited a drug rehabilitation centre,'' he said. "They have a massive drug problem, notwithstanding the fact the penalty is death.'' Also, "they have done everything they possibly can do to keep drugs out, and have failed,'' Mr.

Brock said. A major problem with heroin and opium remained.

"The notion that you can seal Bermuda or any community from drug importation, and thereby resolve your problem, in my view is totally naive,'' he said.

"The rewards for drug trafficking are so great that where there is demand, there is going to be supply.'' The NDC believed a three-pronged approach was needed to tackle Bermuda's drug problem -- demand reduction, supply reduction, and education to stop the problem before it starts.

Addicts needed to be detected in the workplace and elsewhere before they got in trouble with the law, Mr. Brock said in an interview yesterday.

Singapore was making progress in that area, he said. "The director of narcotics there is empowered to put confirmed addicts into treatment long before they get into the criminal justice system. Once they get out of treatment, they have no criminal record.'' The maximum penalty for drug trafficking in Bermuda was life in prison, Mr.

Brock noted.

Too many people wanted "instant solutions,''but there was no such thing. He compared the drug problem to cigarette smoking, noting that when he was growing up, everybody smoked. With drugs, "it's going to take a generation of hard work by the entire community before we see a similar reduction.'' Turning to the newly-formed SGAG, Mr. Brock said Bermuda's war on drugs had lacked an army. With the new grassroots effort, "I see the beginnings of an army,'' he said.

"St. George's Parish declared war on drugs last night,'' Mr. Brock said yesterday.

"A community solution to substance abuse'' is the SGAC's mission statement.

"I'm hoping that you will take the lead for the Country,'' Mr. Brock said at the meeting.

St. George's Mayor Henry Hayward -- who was in attendance along with the four area MPs -- said area politicians were "100 percent behind'' the SGAC's efforts.

"Tonight will be proof positive that things are being done on this Island to fight substance abuse,'' he said.

The meeting was addressed by representatives of the Council Partners' five member agencies. And members of Youth 2 Youth, a PRIDE (Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education) programme, gave an upbeat presentation to show "there are positive youth out there.'' Ms Dominique Smith, the SGAC's coordinator and spokesman, said the group wanted to educate the community about drug problems and thereby broaden participation in the fight. The SGAC would serve as a resource centre, and the Corporation of St. George had offered a site for a small office. The group hoped to gather and provide information and hold seminars. A follow-up meeting is set for next Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. at Ordnance Island.