oversee fund raising for themselves and the National Drug Commission.

Concerned about competition for funds and duplicating each other's efforts, both groups yesterday announced at a Press conference that they had reached a "win/win agreement''.

The agreement calls for the Council Partners, including the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Fair Haven Christian Care Association, Focus, PRIDE, Tough Love, the Lion's Quest Programme, and Businesses Against Drugs, to carry out private sector fund-raising with full support from the Commission.

A joint committee representing the Commission and Council Partners will allocate the money to "deserving programmes''.

Drug-fighting groups that are not part of the Council Partners can also apply to the joint committee, to be set up, for financial assistance.

Prior to the agreement, chairman of the Commission's interim steering committee Mr. Alastair Macdonald said he was "uncomfortable'' with Council Partners' plan to launch a major five-year fund-raising drive.

He said there was "a potential for conflict of interest'', because the Commission, which has been promised $1.2 million from Government, was also hoping to go after private money.

Mr. Macdonald asked the Council Partners to hold off their fund-raising drive for about six months.

But chairman of the Council Partners' fund-raising committee Mrs. Katherine Watson said the charitable groups needed money now.

Yesterday, Mrs. Watson was not present.

But Council Partners' executive officer Mr. Gordon Johnson said after conducting a feasibility study, it was very clear that "it was critical that we work hand in hand with the National Drug Commission''.

"We're so happy that this joint committee will be formed to look at raising funds,'' he added.

And Mr. Macdonald said he too was "very excited'' about the agreement.

"By working together, rather than in competition, we should be able to raise more funds from the private sector,'' he said.

"In addition, this will free up the Commission to focus its energy on developing and implementing anti-drug programmes and initiatives.'' Mr. Macdonald said he was also pleased that other deserving programmes would be eligible for funding under the agreement.

Human Affairs and Information Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill, who brought both groups together to come up with the agreement, said the conflict was unnecessary.

"At the end of the day both groups discovered that they had far more in common than they did separate,'' he said, adding that he personally believed that the groups could raise as much as $25 million.

Mr. Macdonald said there were still many details to work out, but fund-raising is expected to begin in earnest in the new year.

Mr. Alastair Macdonald