The Ord Road Committee Against Drugs is holding a clean-up day for the area this weekend.

Organiser Duane Santucci said the goal of the trash clean-up was to let the public know that while the streets are free of drug trafficking after Operation Cleansweep, they were not "clean to the level we want them''.

Mr. Santucci also said the group had no intention of allowing the drug problem to return.

The clean-up, scheduled to be held from 8.30 a.m. on Saturday, will end with a prayer and thanksgiving service at 7.30 p.m. at the Warwick Workmen's Club in honour of the progress that has taken place on Ord Road.

"I don't believe in doing anything without prayer,'' Mr. Santucci added.

He and other organisers of the event have been visiting all the houses in the Ord Road area to personally hand-out flyers about the day.

After speaking with many of the residents, Mr. Santucci said: "The fear that people have been under has been unbelievable.'' He also noted that he and others involved in the Ord Road efforts have received "very serious threats''. But he stressed that they refused to be moved by the intimidation.

"People lose their fear when they see what standing together can really accomplish,'' he added.

The Ord Road Committee Against Drugs in Bermuda has approximately 12 members and is also appealing to Government not only to get drug dealers off the street, but also to provide rehabilitation for addicts.

Mr. Santucci said he believed that Bermuda "can easily find itself facing the same situation, but even worse'' unless options for local drug rehabilitation become available.

"We are going to press Government to take somewhere like Club Med and make it into a first-class facility for rehabilitation for drug users and people with social problems,'' Mr. Santucci added.

Trash bags and rubber gloves for the clean-up will be donated by the United Bermuda Party and available to volunteers at Lines Grocery Store from 8.30 a.m. onward.

Those unable to participate on Saturday can continue the clean-up on Sunday.