Bermudians Against Narcotics has thrown down the gauntlet to the Police and Corrections services to introduce random mandatory drug tests for all officers.

Campaign organiser Takbir Sharrieff spoke out after prison Commissioner Hubert Dean revealed he had targeted a dozen staff he blames for smuggling drugs into prison.

Mr. Dean?s remarks provoked the ire of the Prison Officers Association, but Mr. Sharrieff said: ?The BAN group applauds his actions and believes this is the right way to go. As public servants the heads of departments should speak out. I applaud Mr. Dean for having the courage.?

He added: ?When BAN first started, we said people in positions of authority dealing with drug dealers such as the Commissioners of Police and prisons and customs officials should have their departments randomly tested.

?We would encourage Mr. Dean to randomly test his officers. We also think the Commissioner of Police should get tested ? and all his officers. This would set an example to the rest of the community and to give the encouragement that they are 100 percent behind the removal of illicit drugs in the community.?

Mr. Sharrieff ? a former Police officer ? said although prison officers are tested when they first get their jobs, they do not have to face further tests. Mr. Dean could not be reached yesterday for comment on this.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines ? speaking on behalf of Commissioner George Jackson ? said the Service did not have a policy on drug testing at present.

He would not comment on whether Mr. Jackson would be prepared to take a test, saying: ?We welcome any comments that anybody has made dealing with issues that are critical to Bermuda. However, before we address any issues in the newspaper, we would first like the courtesy of a conversation (with Mr. Sharrieff) in person. We have an open policy if he wishes to arrange an audience with the Commissioner.?

BAN has previously called for mandatory random drug tests for Government Ministers and civil servants.

The Progressive Labour Party blocked an Opposition motion in the House of Assembly last year backing the idea of voluntary random tests, prompting criticism from the campaign group.

Tourism minister Ewart Brown, spoke at a Bermudians Against Narcotics rally for the first time Saturday.

The rally was held in Somerset, across from the cricket club. The last BAN rally was in February and saw US speakers, Imam Saafir Rabb and Israel Cason, come to the Island.The men returned again to hammer their message home.

Dr. Brown took to the podium and said he wanted to make it to earlier rallies but had previous obligations.

Nevertheless, he said he always intended to attend a BAN rally: ?I am here because there are things that one must do to join with people making serious and earnest efforts to fight the fight.?

Dr. Brown, who did a stint at a heroin treatment centre in Washington D.C. while he was a medical student, said it was essential that Bermudians unite to fight drugs. He also pointed out that addiction was not always the only problem people were facing.

?While working there I noticed something, every person with a drug problem had an underlying problem often it was depression,? he said.

?If you think its an accident that whereever you go in the world black males are struggling with drugs you?re wrong.?

?Many people ask where are the black men? We know where they are. They are either physically incarcerated or mentally incarcerated.But that does not mean we are condemned for life?

He pointed out that Bermudians needed to be willing to try a variety of methods to deal with drugs and not criticise or write things off before the real results can be seen. Dr. Brown also felt it was time that people stopped looking solely to Government to fix the problem and take on some of the responsibility themselves. He pointed out that addicts could not and would not get better unless they wanted to do so.

?We cannot rely on anyone to save us but us,? he said.

The event was also attended by Drug Control Minister, Wayne Perinchief, and Telecommunications Minister Michael Scott, as well as members of the Opposition.