Bermuda's battle against the drugs menace would be maintained.

He said: "US law enforcement agencies have a long and cooperative relationship with the Bermuda Police service and I'm confident that cooperation will continue.'' Mr. Farmer, speaking to Hamilton Rotary Club on Tuesday, also paid tribute to the Island's Police Service as he prepares to quit the Island and return to America.

He said: "The people of Bermuda need and deserve a strong, competent Police force, not only to protect the local citizenry, but -- and this is more in my line of work -- protecting tourists, most of whom are from the US and therefore the tourist industry.'' Mr. Farmer added that US authorities and the Bermuda Police had successfully worked together in the undercover street drug dealing bust Operation Cleansweep.

He said: "There can be no question that the effort to interdict drug activity on the Island was successful, not only in the curtailment of drug trafficking but also in the clear message that it sent that Bermuda, with US assistance if necessary, is tough on drugs.'' Mr. Farmer added that the event that had given him most personal satisfaction on the Island was talking to secondary school pupils with the US Customs Service and the US Immigration department to warn them of the dangers of drug use -- especially the risk of ending up on the US Stop List.

Mr. Farmer said he wanted to stress how drugs convictions could lead to a ban on travel to the US -- ruling out a host of opportunities for education, travel, shopping and even through travel to other destinations.

He added: "My hope is that the message got through because the children of Bermuda do not need or deserve to have opportunities to improve their lives and futures lost through youthful mistakes.'' Mr. Farmer said that during his more than three years in Bermuda he had tried to open up his official residence, Chelston in Paget, to as many people as possible.

He added that he hoped events like the annual Independence Day extravaganza had helped to "foster more cordial relationships between the people of Bermuda and the United States''.

But Mr. Farmer said that the decision by the US Government to put Chelston up for sale should not be regarded as a slap in the face for Bermuda.

He added: "Although I believe Chelston is a national treasure, it is ultimately just a house on a relatively large chunk of property.

"The people that have visited there, either for a few short hours or a few short years, are what makes Chelston special.

"And its sale in no way marks the downgrading in importance of Bermuda in its relations with the United States. Bermuda will continue to be a trusted ally and a close friend for as long as I can see into the future.'' VERY IMPORTANT PEOPEL VIP