violence in the community, an Opposition Senator said yesterday.

Opposition Senate leader Milton Scott made this claim during the Motion to Adjourn in the Upper House.

"I am concerned about the issue of violence,'' he said. "And I will continue to speak about it until I see programmes to address this.'' Sen. Scott said it was a well known fact that there was a link between drug use and violence and he commended the Police and Whitney Institute for their recently publicised initiatives to cope with the problem.

"I would have preferred to have seen a national programme ... run from a central office that would include all public schools.'' Sen. Scott said the problem of violence could not be tackled in a vacuum because it required an "integrated approach'' that included parents, principals, the business community and churches.

He said he was still awaiting Government's code of discipline which had been promised since 1986.

Sen. Scott said that violence was no longer "down the street'' because in many cases people were stealing from their own families to support their drug habit.

Additionally, Sen. Scott took aim at cable television for displaying "full frontal nudity'' during prime time.

He said that a four-year-old could put on their television set at 9 a.m. on a Sunday and be exposed to pornography and various "simulated sex acts''.

"Just as HBO can block out a boxing match it can block out sex acts ...

this must be addressed.'' Sen. Scott said the Broadcast Commission needed to assume a more active role in regulating television shows.

The Opposition Leader then took a few parting shots at a Royal Gazette editorial which criticised the PLP's alleged softness on drugs.

"I don't know how many times the PLP has to say it is not permissive on drugs,'' he said.

"Just as I have said publicly that I have a zero tolerance of violence ...

I have a similar position on drugs.'' Sen. Scott said the Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness could attest to the "positive and contributory role the Progressive Labour Party has played during the Steering Committee and now the National Drugs Commission.

"There were some rough times. Some individuals were having a negative impact and should have been prepared to resign.

"We now have an individual (who is prepared to work) in place.'' Sen. Scott said it was simply untrue that the PLP had a disruptive effect on the Steering Committee.

Moreover, he said drugs were not a PLP or UBP problem.

"It is a problem for all of us ... the community's life it under threat.''