discussed by MPs today.

It is aimed at getting Bermuda to cooperate with other countries in fighting the scourge.

The Criminal Justice (International Cooperation) (Bermuda) Act 1994 goes before the House of Assembly for its second reading.

Yesterday Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness, who is piloting the bill, was hopeful of all-party support.

"This is a very important step in fighting drugs,'' he said.

The bill is based on the United Kingdom's Criminal Justice (International Cooperation) Act 1990.

A key aim is to get Bermuda to cooperate with other countries in enforcing the Vienna Convention against drug trafficking.

Mr. Edness explained this could have been done by extending the British legislation so that it covered Bermuda.

"It was thought, however, it would be better for Bermuda to introduce its own legislation in its own language,'' he said. "It means Bermuda will be fully covered in complying with the Vienna Convention.

"We will cooperate with other countries in combating illicit drug trafficking and also in providing evidence from Bermuda when we have to do so or in requesting information and evidence from other countries.'' The bill sets out the procedures for Bermuda to cooperate with the international community.

It covers, among other things, summonses for people to appear in overseas court cases, the transfer of Bermudian prisoners abroad, and the sending of evidence to foreign jurisdictions.

Mr. Edness said Bermuda had cooperated up to now on an "ad hoc'' basis.

Now such cooperation was being enshrined in law.

See Editorial, Page 4.

MPs to debate car laws -- Page 7