Government should "stand up" and take drug tests as an example to Bermuda of the seriousness of substance abuse, the House of Assembly was told yesterday.

Donte Hunt, the Shadow Minister of Family Development and Social Rehabilitation, laid down the gauntlet during yesterday's debate on The National Drug Control Master Plan 2007-2011.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome, a certified drug addiction counsellor with many years' experience, was standing in for Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler to deliver the report.

The report had been unveiled last year and a second round of smaller discussion forums titled "Stand Up" were unveiled by Mr. Butler earlier this week.

Yesterday, Mr. Hunt said while he supported the report, it needed to go further — and one way would be for Government to implement drug tests.

"There are just no specifics going forward. This plan is not complete. Without the details how can we necessarily come up with such a specific detailed budget?" he said.

"If we don't have the detail how will be know the programmes we will need in three years? What about random drug testing and drug screening?

"Butterfield and Vallis is one company that has a drug free workplace that they promote and run. Maybe we can set that example as elected Members of Parliament.

"I think we can stand up and lead by attending drug screening to show we are drug free."

His idea was backed by United Bermuda Party colleagues but drew an angry response from Government backbencher Neletha Butterfield, who has worked with recovering drug addicts and said she would never take drugs herself.

Ms Butterfield gave a lengthy and emotional speech in which she spoke of the heartache of trying to deal with the effects of drugs.

She concluded by saying: "I'm not going to continue to listen to those members from the other side who talk about people like me getting drug tested.

"You give me a good reason why I should be drug tested and I will be the first out the door.

"I want those members this evening to test my pain when it happened to my family members. Test my agony and my embarrassment."

After describing how she had witnessed the pain of addiction, she added: "Oh no, I'm telling you right now, I ain't going near the stuff and I ain't going to try it, so don't look for it inside of me. Have enough confidence to know that I'm not silly enough to do drugs."

In presenting the report yesterday Mr. Bascome noted that an average of 85 percent of females failed breath tests in the last fours years compared to 81 percent of men — and alcohol abuse was one of the addictions Government was determined to address.

The plan also pledges to reduce drug use, drug crime, drug-related health damage and drug trafficking and money laundering while boosting the number of successfully treated addicts.

The Ministry of Rehabilitation is working with Corrections to bring in mandatory drug treatment after figures showed the vast majority of newly-admitted inmates were users said Mr. Bascome who added the programme could start this year.

And he said a recent survey had shown the use of alcohol and drugs among school children was high and urged the public to enter the field of addiction counselling through the many courses on offer.

He said the whole community needed to unite against the drug scourge as he lamented the lack of attendance at public forums to publicise the master plan which saw a total of just 203 people turn up.

He said the consequences of ignoring the problem were far reaching with increases of dropouts and prisoners, more sexual disease and violent crime and greater scrutiny of Bermuda over money laundering.

Camp Spirit, the island drug retreat, will move to a newly-renovated Captain's in Charge facility in Sandys in the fall of 2009 where it will offer year-round capacity as the current set up on Darrell's Island is closed for two months a year.

In July 2008 transitional housing will be completed to ease graduates of the Women's Treatment Centre back into the community.

However, Opposition MP Grant Gibbons seconded Mr. Hunt's call for all Ministers to be drug tested and bemoaned the lack of measurable targets.

During the debate he said: "This Master Plan and framework will move us forward, but my question is why? Why will this Master Plan move us forward?

"This is like déjà vu all over again. How will I know if it's working? I think we have had a lot of these things existing before. What I am interested in seeing is where are the specific measures.

"Where are the targets? Why not set a manageable goal?"

Progressive Labour Party MP Lovitta Foggo, however, shot back that this was a fully comprehensive plan and children were being taught in Government schools about the scourge of drugs.

She said: "The plan that is before us outlines a comprehensive approach. I can speak first hand in terms of education.

"We teach our children all the ills of drug use and misuse. This is something that goes on through the year. We try as best we can and again this (the plan) shows our community we do everything possible to diminish the impact of drugs on our Island."

Mr. Bascome added that many addicts got introduced to their habit through their parents who encouraged their first sip of alcohol or puff of marijuana.

"They talk about some of the abuse that comes with it. We have a community that is very negligent in protecting young people from some of the elements they may indulge in.

"I don't think there is any family on this island that has not been touched by the ravages of the disease of addiction that consumes lives."

Shadow Justice Minister Mark Pettingill said tougher laws were needed for people caught possessing drugs.

"We can't just work with a bunch of teddy bears and cuddle up to the custom that drives the business," said Mr. Pettingill.

He also called for 24-hour surveillance on cruise ships to catch drug smugglers in the act, and for a walk-in treatment centre, such as he has seen in Amsterdam.

The lawyer bemoaned the fact that in Bermuda drug users need to make an appointment before attending a clinic, meaning a golden opportunity was being missed as addicts are more likely to want to undergo treatment when they are "coming down from their high".

Junior Public Safety Minister Walter Roban pointed to long-awaited plans to introduce crackhouse legislation, which the Department of National Drug Control will seek Cabinet's support for.

"Once we have the legislation in place, we can have a smoother process dealing with these places," said Mr. Roban.

Mr. Roban took heart from the efforts made so far by Sir Richard Gozney, who was appointed as Governor late last year. He said Sir Richard had been working with authorities in Bermuda to "beef up our security framework".

Veteran Opposition MP John Barritt said he had seen many plans like this one over the years and said it read like a "wish list".

He said Government needed to prioritise and identify targets which could realistically be met. He echoed calls for the drug-testing of MPs, saying that people in authority should do their bit to help change social attitudes toward drug use.

Deputy Opposition Leader Cole Simons said it was time for families to become honest and recognise when they have a drug dealer in their midst.

Mr. Simons said some of the plan's targets were over-the-top and took particular umbrage with the proposal to ban Happy Hour.

"We are a country that likes to relax, we like a party, we like Dark 'n' Stormy. We need to be real about what's going on in this country. We can't be hypocritical," said Mr. Simons.

Dismissing cancelling Happy Hour as an "unrealistic expectation", he continued: "People work hard all week. At the end, they want to go out with their families. To say we should do away with Happy Hour is unreasonable. We are in denial. Come on, get real!"

He said less unrealistic targets needed to be set for the plan to remain credible.

PLP backbencher Patrice Minors described drug addiction as a "path of death" and echoed her party colleague Ashfield DeVent's suggestion of a big conversation on drugs.

Opposition Leader Kim Swan called for a bipartisan joint select committee to "address the scourge of drugs that has and is prickling our country, threatening our unborn, killing the hope of many of our children who are out there today".

Paula Cox, Acting Premier in the absence of Ewart Brown, shared her knowledge as Finance Minister by speaking about how proceeds of crime cash can help with the fight against drugs.

Ms Cox said proceeds of crime money is used for projects such as treatment and rehabilitation, anti money laundering initiatives and education on drugs.