Island at the Community Drug Awareness Day held at the National Stadium.

To start the day, the Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Rev. William Down gave the following prayer: "O Lord our Heavenly Father, whose will it is that all should enjoy health of body, mind and spirit, we thank you for the gift of life; for our individual personalities, talents and skills; for Your provision for all our needs; for the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong; and for sending your Son Jesus Christ into the world to show us how to live, to die for our sins, and to rise again -- the conqueror of sin and evil and death, and the giver of life and health and strength.

"We thank You for those who conceived the idea of this day; for those who had the vision of uniting all Bermudians in a concerted war against drug abuse; for those who had the enthusiasm, determination, energy, and skills to turn the vision into a reality; and for those who are dedicated to stamping out drug abuse and rescuing the addicted.

"We thank You for the work of our customs officers, Police Force, Community Service workers, Immigration officials, Emergency Services personnel, airport staff, Marine and Ports workers, and all involved in the campaign to prevent, detect and eradicate drug trafficking; for the co-operation and willing assistance of their colleagues in other lands; and for each and every success achieved in their work; "We thank You for the presence of the Premier at the opening of today's programme; for the participation of other leaders of our community; for the involvement of the Churches, and the service clubs; for the enthusiasm of the young people among us; for the Island-wide commitment to this day; for the participation of experts and specialists working in the drugs scene; and for the coverage by the Press, radio and television.

"We thank You for the generosity of the sponsors and donors of prizes for today's events; for those who will entertain us; for those who will care for our physical needs; and for those who organised and took part in the School Poster Competition.

"We thank You for the privilege of living in Bermuda, and for this wonderful day, and we pray that by our efforts we may help to identify and overcome our drug problems.

"We pray for all who are hooked on drugs, that they may be helped and enabled to overcome their addiction. We pray for their families, their friends, and the people who care for them. We pray that You will change the hearts and minds and lives of those who now traffic in drugs, that they may turn away from their evil course. We pray for those who even now are being lured into experimenting with drugs.

"We pray for the success of the efforts of all engaged in the battle against drug abuse and for all who are involved in any way in this special day. We ask that it will be a day of fun, of enjoyment, of witness to what we believe and of great significance.

"To the glory of God in thanksgiving for His love and goodness, and as an act of witness to our fellow human beings, we dedicate this day and all its events; in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.''