ERROR RG P4 16.11.1999 An article in The Royal Gazette on Saturday, November 13 was ambiguous in regard to the Ministry of Youth & Sports drug policy. The policy, which emphasises rehabilitation over penalisation, is already in effect. It was implemented in July.

The national policy on drugs in sport unduly penalised local athletes.

So said Youth & Sports Minister Dennis Lister last night in the House of Assembly.

And now Government plans to change the policy.

Mr. Lister said that under the current policy, athletes who tested positive for drugs were immediately banned from competing both locally and overseas for a year.

Mr. Lister said the emphasis was now needed to be placed on rehabilitation and encouraging the individual to give up drugs and develop a positive attitude about themselves and their ability.

The new policy will now see players who test positive given an opportunity to continue to compete locally if they agree to three months of counselling.

During those three months the individual must agree to random drug testing.

Mr. Lister contended that his new approach removes a great deal of the stigma attached in the previous policy while noting that athletes will still be banned from competing internationally for a year.

And Shadow Youth & Sports Minister, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said she thought the new policy was a good move.

But her fellow Opposition MP Jim Woolridge, a longtime cricket and sports enthusiast, said the new move was a step backward as it deviated from the international standard.

New GP1 car set to be bought -- Scott Government has not bought new cars, only replaced old ones, and a new GP1 is in the works, Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott announced yesterday.

And a new committee of senior civil servants overseeing the administration of the car pool has been formed.

Mr. Scott made the announcement during last night's response to the Throne Speech debate in the House of Assembly.

He said the number of cars and other vehicles available to Ministers is stable at "around 80'', calling the purchases of replacement cars "judicious''.

"We're not going to be a lavish Government,'' Mr. Scott said. "We've been cascading the older cars down and replacing them. We have been very frugal.'' Saying the Premier had directed that the replacement for the official car be cost-effective, Mr. Scott said one car dealer had offered to maintain the old GP1 until the new one arrives.

The committee, made up of his Permanent Secretary Stanley Oliver, assistant Cabinet Secretary Robert Horton, and director of the Transport Control Department Donald Dane, is tasked with the "day-to-day'' operation of Government cars.

He claimed it was a sign of weakness by the Government and insisted that only one set of rules should exist.

"We should have only one set of rules and should stick to the international standard so that we won't be embarrassed when our athletes compete overseas.'' he said.

SPORTS SP DRUGS DGS