Drug bill passed despite opposition’s concerns
Refinements to the Government body tasked with overseeing drug treatment in Bermuda, along with forging a new drug master plan, were approved last night by MPs.
After the 16 to 13 defeat of an Opposition challenge to amend the National Drug Control Act 2013, the Bill passed the House of Assembly.
Led by Shadow Attorney General Kim Wilson, Progressive Labour Party MPs sought to remove an item requiring sporting organisations and churches to register with Government if they offer drug treatment programmes.
Ms Wilson argued that the registration requirement would have onerous and unintended consequences.
However, Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley and Attorney General Mark repeatedly assured the House that registration didn’t constitute licensing.
“A school lessons is not a programme,” Mr Dunkley said, insisting that “just say no” Sunday school exercises would not be forced to register.
A vote split down party lines saw Government MPs prevail, and the Act was approved as printed.
The legislation, promised by the One Bermuda Alliance in February, aims to clarify the mandate and responsibilities for the Department of National Drug Control.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing it,” Mr Dunkley said. “That’s exactly what we’re doing here today.”
Last night’s bill “fulfills that promise”, he said, with a coordinated system for treating and rehabilitating those who victim to substance abuse.
It also sets a plan for “research, the collection and analysis of data and the implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan”, the Minister said.
Bermuda’s drug authority has had a chequered history over the past 20 years.
Mr Dunkley noted that the 1993 National Drug Commission (NDC) Act had been repealed when the former quango was reclassified as the Ministry for National Drug Control — only to be dissolved and remade as the Department for National Drug Control in October, 2006, under the aegis of the then Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation.
The current Act brings the Department under the purview of Public Safety.
A National Drug Control Master Plan and Strategy is to be reviewed every five years, with annual reports on its progress — as well as yearly accounts for Government drug control efforts, and spending proposed for the new operating year.
The Plan will be launched before the end of this fiscal year.
Addressing the recommendation by the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission that the Department be done away with, Mr Dunkley told the House it was “far more than a simple clearing house for grant funding”.
Its role, he said, was critical in “the fight for much-needed cultural and attitudinal change”.
Opposition MP Kim Wilson expressed concern that the act was “too wide” in that it requires drug treatment centres and facilities to apply to the Minister for a licence.
She questioned the fact that there are many grass roots programmes run through the island’s churches, sports clubs and other facilities that promote good life choices.
Independent MP Terry Lister found it “interesting” that the Act would give the regulator power to review helping agencies like the Salvation Army’s Harbourlight Programme for men with substance abuse problems.
“You will remember that the funds for the Salvation Army were cut about four or five years ago, and I don’t think they’ve been fully restored,” Mr Lister said.
“So it’s an independent entity that’s going to be faced with all of this challenge.”
Mr Lister questioned how cost cutting would impact the new Nelson Bascome Treatment Facility.
“I was made to understand that up until recently there were very few clients and a good number of staff,” said Mr Lister. He recalled the many problems with contractors in the lead up to the delayed completion of the facility.
He noted that the “Transitional Living Centre was shut down just over a year ago”. To date, he said: “It has not been restored.
“My understanding is that some 80 percent of the people who passed through the doors left, stayed out and didn’t go back to prison. Many were thought to have no further involvement with drugs, which is pretty amazing when you consider the recidivism rate in Westgate. Is there a plan under all this funding to put that back in place? Are we going to do something really positive with out prisoners?”
Mr Dunkley chided MPs not to use the Bascome Facility as “a political football” and said the Transitional Living Centre had been closed two summers ago.
The Minister said the Right Living House at the East End deals with inmates grappling with substance abuse, and currently assists 14 men and five women.