trading in the area.

But no-one should expect any overnight miracles, say area MPs.

Pembroke East MP Ottiwell Simmons told The Royal Gazette that a meeting held this week to discuss new ways of tackling the menace was extremely well attended and productive.

He said he left the one hour meeting "very encouraged''.

One outcome was that the community had fully endorsed a proposal to engage area churches in the effort. And the entire community will be surveyed on the possible uses of Government-owned property in the area.

The St. Monica's action group came together two years ago to make a concerted effort to rid the area of drug trading.

A strong focus has been placed on education and jobs training. And Government is throwing its weight behind the community's initiatives with a view to making St. Monica's a pilot project for the rest of the Island.

Mr. Simmons, who has so far been loathe to call for Police action in the area, told The Royal Gazette that the group will be involving the Police "in terms of working out some strategy''.

He said that the sociological focus of the community group should not lull anyone into thinking that the Police would not be active in the area.

"The Police are at liberty to do what they want without regard to our little group.'' Minister of Health and Social Services Nelson Bascome, who also represents Pembroke East, also attended the meeting.

Referring to a Royal Gazette headline on the effort this week he said: "What I got out of listening to everyone was that it is not a `flop'. We recognise that this took decades to create. This is not a microwave thing. This is long term, dig your heels in and show them that you care.'' The community had grown "immune'' to negative publicity, Mr. Bascome said.

"But they are tenacious. They know their young people need direction and they are not willing to give up on them. They are still willing to work with them.'' Mr. Bascome added that it was revealed at the meeting that four young men who used to hang out in the area had received their GEDs and were no longer seen on the streets.

"These four gentlemen have now moved on and gone on to another level,'' he said.

"Getting one guy off the streets is a success.'' And he said that two lots of land had been purchased by Government so far and others' were being looked at.

In recent weeks one of the "main derelict houses'' had been purchased, he added.

This week The Royal Gazette reported that the St. Monica's Action Group which is spearheading the anti-drugs campaign, was soliciting the help of the religious community.

Mr. Simmons said then that the two year campaign had so far not produced any outstanding successes. But he remained as upbeat as ever. "I think everyone else was quite pleased'' with Tuesday's meeting, he said. "Nobody's lost faith and we still see a `winable' war.'' Mr. Bascome said that a drive was on now to get younger people on some of the various committees addressing the issue.