ever drugs court.

Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess took the wraps off final proposals for the court yesterday.

A new treatment and assessment centre for drug users will be set up to run alongside the drugs court.

And Mr. Burgess told Bermudians the pioneering system of dealing with drug users would be open within 18 months.

No drug dealers can be dealt with by the court, which gives addicts a one-year rehabilitation programme instead of sentences.

Mr. Burgess said the court was the next step in Bermuda's fight against drugs, following this week's international operation to smash a cruise ship smuggling ring and a series of recent crack house demolitions.

The Minister said: "This is good news for Bermuda, good news for the victims of drugs and bad news for drug dealers -- and very bad news for drug importers.'' He said only drug users and defendants not charged with violent crime could be referred to the drugs court.

"There are those who believe we should lock 'em up and throw away the key,'' said Mr. Burgess, adding that no location had yet been pinpointed for the drugs court.

"There are others who believe that drug offenders are victims, in need of community sympathy, treatment and help.

"We need to be sensitive and tempered in our approach. But for those people in the business of peddling and selling drugs, that's where we want to lock 'em up and thrown away the key.

"Simply put, the man who smuggles and deals the stuff is not eligible to take part. For him, there is only severe judicial sanction.'' Mr. Burgess said the drugs court would help addicts who wanted to help themselves.

Offenders can be referred to the court by a Magistrate, Police or the Attorney General's chambers.

But they must demonstrate a willingness to rid themselves of drugs before having their case heard at the new court.

An implementation committee, including 18 members from Government and the private sector, will now meet to put the finishing touches to the drugs court.

It will be based on a drugs court in Pensacola, Florida, which has already been visited by Chief Justice Austin Ward.

National Drug Commission Chairman Mansfield (Jimmy) Brock said the Florida model had a 60 percent success rate of no re-offending.

And he said the NDC had set aside $1 million for the next two years, to go with a $500,000 Government commitment for the current financial year.

But Mr. Burgess defended the cost of the project.

He said: "I know certainly what the cost would be without it. It is the cost of lives. It is the cost of increased crime. It is the human wastage.

"The cost is the need to import people because our people are too strung out on drugs and unable to be as productive as they should be.'' Malcolm Butterfield, Chairman of the implementation committee, said the members would now convene to plan what legislative changes needed to be made for the court.

He said: "Drugs are destroying Bermuda and a successful drugs court will certainly assist significantly in decreasing the demand for drug use in Bermuda.'' DRUGS DGS COURTS CTS