Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess has dismissed as "dangerous'' the PLP's plan to appoint a civilian "Drugs Czar'' to assist the Police in the war against drugs if it wins the election.

And he said the idea showed "a total lack of understanding about the fundamental concepts of an open and free democracy''.

On Friday Shadow Home Affairs spokesman Alex Scott said that a special committee would target the supply lines and the men behind the scenes in a bid to stop the supply of drugs.

Last night Mr. Burgess said: "The actual identification and apprehension of these dangerous criminals cannot and must not be undertaken by a civilian committee.

"It is imperative that the Police are allowed to continue their work in the difficult and often dangerous area of drug supply and dealing. The public has a critical role to play in providing information and the public must be commended for all they have done in the last several months.

"But the idea is dangerous and shows a total lack of understanding about the fundamental concepts of an open and free democracy.

"A free democracy does not tolerate interference in the independent operations of its Police Service or its courts. Above all else we must protect with all we have the independent operation of both -- any other standard is just taking us down a slippery slope. I am worried for all Bermudians that some members of the PLP leadership do not seem to appreciate or be willing to protect this fundamental truth of our community.

"I can only hope that, in a rush to have a position on drugs and crime in our community, this suggestion was not clearly thought out by the PLP leadership.

I would ask the people of Bermuda to question them very closely on this idea to make sure that the fundamentals of an independent Police Service and judiciary are clearly understood.'' Last night Mr. Scott defended the idea, saying it had been seen to work in other jurisdictions.

He refused to be drawn into a slanging match with his opposite number but instead simply said that he was sorry that the Minister did not think it a good idea.

"If he felt that this committee was going to usurp the Police Commissioner then, yes, he's right to be concerned but that's not what we're suggesting,'' Mr. Scott said.

"There's no way we would force this onto an organisation but what we are saying is that, if we are elected then it will be discussed.

"Yes, it is a dangerous post because it's a very effective post. This has been used in the US and Caribbean and has proved successful. It will broaden the reach of the Police by doing nothing else but identifying, tracking down and bringing before the courts, under the guidance of the Police Commissioner and narcotics squad, the Mr. Bigs of the drugs world.'' Mr. Scott went on to say that his shadow public safety team includes former Police Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Perinchief, Regiment Chief David Burch and former magistrate Arthur Hodgson.

"These are very pragmatic people and this is something we have been discussing for a long time -- it's not something that we have just thought up.

I'm only disappointed that the Minister doesn't see any merit in it.'' Alex Scott Graphic file name: SCOTTY Maxwell Burgess Graphic file name: MAXXI