MPs yesterday heard Government accused of trying to discourage local anti-drug volunteers and attempting to make the Health Minister king of a vast new bureaucracy.

The jibe came from deputy PLP leader Mr. Walter Roberts as the House of Assembly resumed its debate of the bill setting up a National Drugs Commission.

Mr. Phillip Smith (UBP) began by saying fewer children today went to Sunday school and learned right from wrong, which helped teenagers when they came into contact with drugs. Peer pressure is now often stronger than parental influence, he said. He outlined drug education programmes he would like to see in schools.

"If the PLP have a strategy they should go ahead and introduce their strategy and ask the Government to support it. The Opposition refuse to be a part of the solution to the problem, yet complain about the manner in which the Minister is attempting to deal with the problem.'' Mr. Smith said a 34-year-old constituent told him he started drinking beer, given to him by his father, aged nine. He started smoking marijuana at 12 and went on to sell cocaine, eventually getting hooked himself. He had been getting help at Addiction Services.

Mr. Smith praised AS, although he said other rehabilitation methods should be explored.

He was glad alcohol abuse was included in the bill. He told of a friend who confronted his son about using cocaine. The man's son in turn criticised his father for drinking every day. "The son saw alcohol for what it really was -- it was a drug.'' A Salvation Army officer had told him alcohol was a bigger destroyer of families than illegal drugs. Parents should be setting an example by not drinking.

Mr. Roberts said many PLP members were on local anti-drug groups. "We're very sincere about this proposal but we're very frustrated because of Government's inaction.'' He stressed the need for the Commission to co-ordinate the anti-drug battle, as pointed out by Dr. David Archibald in presenting his National Drug Strategy report.

But Government was raising expectations of the organisation too high, and people would find they would not be part of the anti-drugs fight as they are now. The Commission should nurture and encourage local activities, rather than take them over, as Government was planning.

"The cost, I guarantee, is going to skyrocket. I have seen so many organisations set up by Government which have started very small but which are now costing the Bermudian taxpayer millions of dollars, and at the same time the Bermudian taxpayer is getting a less and less hands-on approach.'' The Minister had constantly interfered with the drug strategy committee and was trying to build up his own "bailiwick'' for the election.

"I believe it will all fall apart because of lack of forethought.'' Mr.

Roberts said he was associated with Sandys Against Drugs, which had been seeking to work with Government. "We have had no assistance, no direction, no help from Government itself. It has been frustrating to our committee because we want to solve the problem as quickly as possible.'' The PLP was sincere in its anti-drug proposals, he added, and he hoped the Minister would respect that. "Our party has tried to co-operate. We do intend to co-operate as much as possible.'' Ms Jennifer Smith (PLP) told the House: "The board will not get the respect or the support of the entire community if it is seen merely as a tool of the Minister.'' It needed to be independent and act on its own decisions. Mr.

Harry Soares (UBP) said getting through adolescence is now twice as treacherous as it was when he was a young man.

He pleaded for an end for arguments on the subject of drugs. "If we all stand strongly on our personal views we will achieve nothing.'' Prevention should be the priority, he said. Mr. Dennis Lister (PLP) said he hoped the same emphasis will be given to alcohol abuse as illegal drug abuse.

"I think its time for Government to to take a strong look at ways in which we can restrict the availability of alcohol in our community.'' Maybe drink should only be sold in liquor stores, he said, where it was easier to prevent young people hanging around.

He added: "We must have the manpower and resources put in place that are going to make this document effective.'' Mr. Stanley Lowe (PLP) criticised the Minister's proposed role concerning the Commission. "The pivotal role of the Minister could be lessened by showing some innovation and saying the Opposition should have a greater role as far as representatives on the Commission go.'' Maybe the Opposition leader could pick four of the nine people, and maybe the NLP leader could have a role too, he said.

He paid tribute to Addiction Services and Police.

And he said alcohol was too readily available throughout the community. The Island had also been living in age of "excessive materialism'' over the last few decades which had led youngsters astray. The community must try and get children "back in Sunday school and church'' and concentrate on good character building programmes, he said.

Company policy forbidding substance abuse and drug testing anyone involved in a road accident are some of the ideas the National Drug Commission will be exploring.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness , in his response to the debate, said he felt such moves would reduce demand for drugs and alcohol.

He added, "A reduction in demand will lead to a drop in price and cause the baron or international drug smuggler to become less and less interested in the Bermuda market.'' Mr. Edness said one of the reasons Bermuda was such a prime market for drug smugglers was because the local street value of drugs was much higher than it was in America and other countries. "It is a rich market for drugs,'' he said.

The Minister said he was disappointed that many of the PLP member's comments were "irrelevant'' and aimed at scoring political points.

However, there were some suggestions worthy of reply.

Answering Mr. Roberts, he said the Commission's role was not only one of coordinating.

It would seek to implement anti-drug programmes as well as coordinate existing services involved in the war on drugs.

Mr. Edness insisted he was not interfering with the Commission by being active on its board. He was simply ensuring it was run the way Government wanted it run.

One of the programmes the Commission would seek to implement would be parish programmes offering alternatives to young men who "hang out'' in certain places in their neighbourhoods, exposing themselves to drug pushers.

The programme would help them find and keep jobs and educate themselves. It would also support community action groups like ORSHAD and SAD.

Government was not allowing the PLP to appoint members to the Commission directly, he said, because it had sole responsibility for seeing that it functioned well. But the PLP was welcome to submit any name it wanted.

"We have serious concerns that if people of a political background are appointed it could lead to a conflict on the board and hinder its work,'' he said, adding, "We have bent over backwards to leave the door wide open for the Opposition and its leader to come on board.'' Mr. Edness mentioned several other anti-drug programmes that the Commission would be looking into implementing.

He understood it was US policy to give a percentage of large cash seizures from drug sales to any country that helped bring about the arrests of the traffickers.

If this was so, Government would find out how it could take advantage and seek to ensure that once the money went into the Consolidated Fund -- as required by law -- it would be used in the war on drugs.

Demand reduction was a key area the Commission would investigate, he said. He said it had been estimated that 25 percent of the workforce had some degree of drug or alcohol problem.

And the cost to the country as a result was enormous due to drug and alcohol-related accidents, deaths, destruction of families and absenteeism from work.

"One of the ways to combat this, is to cause a drugs policy to be set up Island-wide in the workplace,'' he said.

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He said the "casual user'' of drugs and alcohol was the most "infectious'' to non-abusers. They invite people over for social events and encourage alcohol and drug use, he said.

Mr. Edness said he believed mandatory drug testing should take place now at the point of accidents, in the same manner people are tested for alcohol consumption via the alco-analyser.

"There have been a number of accidents where alcohol was not present in the person's blood but it was fairly obvious they had been out of control,'' he said.

"We need to put it into law that Police can test for drugs at the point of an accident.

He further suggested bus drivers and others involved in driving the public be tested for drugs on a mandatory basis. Taxi drivers could be excluded because there did not seem to be a high incidence of accidents among them, he said.

Responding, Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said the Commission could hardly be called a National Drug Commission when Government was going to interfere and run it as it saw fit.

And he said while the Bill had made provisions for drug abuse research, it had failed to allow for legal research.

"There is definitely a need for legal research so we can get the law correct as it relates to drug abuse,'' he said. "We need to look at the supply side as well as the demand side (of drugs).'' Mr. Wade said Mr. Edness and the Premier should show they trusted the Commission members by refraining from "interfering and looking over their shoulders''.

Government's interference in NADA's efforts in the past to set up an anti-drugs commission "drove poor (executive) Cal Ming crazy'' he said.

He was concerned Government's "interference'' this time round would frustrate board members to the point of driving them crazy as well.

He said the PLP intended to participate in the Commission but not as "little boys''. Its members wanted to be treated as partners in the effort.

Mr. Edness said the Minister of Health would not be constantly breathing down the neck of the National Drug Commission.

He would probably only see it every month, not on a weekly basis.

Mr. Frederick Wade criticised the right for Government to approve the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer to the Commission.

"I think it should be left to the board,'' he said.

Mr. Wade said it would be wrong for the Minister to use his power of veto to block the Commission's own choice of a CEO.

"I don't think Government appreciates what we are trying to do here. We are asking for a community-based operation, with charities and different groups, to work with the Commission.

"The heavy hand of the Minister should not be seen or felt.'' But Mr. Edness defended Government's right to approve the appointment.

Government had the ultimate responsibility for the success of the Commission -- and it should have final say over such a key appointment as the CEO.

"It is up to Government to ensure this whole system is going to work.'' Mr. Edness said Government would consider a Commission shortlist of CEO candidates, along with recommendations.

"Government will support the recommendations, but if for some reason Government knows of a reason why a candidate should not get the job, Government has the right to say no.'' Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Sir John Sharpe agreed, saying Government had a responsibility to the taxpayer.

Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward then proposed an amendment to the Bill. This would ensure reports on the Commission were presented to the House while in session or the next ensuing session.

Mr. Hayward said the amendment would instil confidence in the community, and prevent delays in tabling reports.

But Sir John Sharpe said this would needlessly clutter up the legislation with superfluous words.

The amendment was defeated.

Debate then focused on the use of money confiscated from illegal drug dealings.

PLP MPs, backed by National Liberal Party leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell , said the money should be directed into the Commission's coffers.

Mr. Wade said the Commission would have the power to receive endowment funds.

Why could not confiscated cash go straight to the Commission? Mr. Edness, however, said it was proposed to funnel such cash to the Consolidated Fund -- Government's cash reserve.

The Commission could then make a request for funds, if it needed them.

But, said Mr. Edness, it may be the Commission was already sufficiently resourced.

In that case, confiscated money could go towards the Police, or any other body with a more pressing need.

"Government's hands should not be tied.'' Mr. Edness pointed out the Commission would receive money from the Consolidated Fund on an annual basis.

MPs then passed an amendment suggested by Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith.

This enables the Permanent Secretary to Education to become an ex-officio -- non-voting -- member of the Commission.

Mr. Edness said education and information were key in combating drugs.

It was, therefore, important to have input from the Education Ministry.

PLP MPs went on to repeat criticism over the appointments to the Commission, claiming Government's track record on heeding Opposition recommendations was bad.

It was claimed Government had ignored the PLP's request for lawyer Ian Kawaley to be involved in drafting the Bill -- but this was strongly refuted by Mr.

Edness.

Mr. Wade added: "We put the House on notice we expect to have a reasonable share of the 16 appointments, five of them ex-officio.'' Mr. Edness stressed Government saw the Commission as a non-political organisation.

And it wanted multi-party support for the drive against drugs.

The House then passed the Bill.