cooperate in getting the new National Drug Commission going.

Mr. Macdonald, chairman of the commission's interim steering committee, said the NDC board could be up and running in six to eight weeks if the appointment of members goes smoothly.

After approval of the commission plan by Senators this week, he said, all that remained was for the Governor to sign it.

"I don't know if people realise what an important step forward this is,'' said Mr. Macdonald.

"Dr. David Archibald's report set this thing in motion and it's something we've been working towards for about a year and a half.

"Although there was a lot of sound and fury from the political parties in the Senate there were no dissenters from the Bill, and that is a good sign.

"The Bill will really set up the machinery so that we can really start to deal with the drug problem.

"Hopefully we can start to deal with this by keeping this very important issue outside of the political process so that we can make progress quickly.'' The next step would be for the Premier to consult with all the political parties and for the NDC board to be set up, he said.

He hoped politicians would cooperate in the consultation process and the identification of appropriate NDC members.

The commission will have an annual budget of more than $1 million, Mr.

Macdonald said.

Once the NDC was set up Bermuda would start to see a lot of things happen, he added.