drugs according to the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

The coalition also warns that children who would most benefit from the programme will end up in the new prison where Government is spending money.

Chairman Ms Sheelagh Cooper said: "This Government seems more willing to spend its money on capital construction programmes than on the human services that really make a difference.

"It is absurd to spend $44 million on a state-of-the-art prison while allowing after-school programming to disappear from the schools.'' Government has threatened to indefinitely postpone the programme as part of $2 million education cuts.

Ms Cooper was speaking after witnessing the weekend's racing which involved hundreds of people participating and spectating.

She said: "The extraordinary support that this weekend's races have had from this community points out the fact that sport in our culture can be a real avenue to achieve a sense of well-being and a sense of self-worth. It is an avenue that is open to people from all walks of life. Enthusiasm for this kind of participation has been, in the past, generated and nurtured by the schools and heavily supported through their after-school programming.

"The prospect that such after-school programming may be discontinued indefinitely would be a major blow to organised sports for those who have most to gain by it.'' Asking for Government to ensure that the programmes are continued Ms Cooper said it would be a way to show it was genuinely committed to addressing the problems of youth.

She added that for many children participation in after-school activities, particularly sport, offers their best prospects of building a positive self image. She stressed some children who have difficulties academically and need other ways to get a sense of achievement.

She said: "If they don't find it through legitimate channels, a feeling of well-being is readily available to them on the street corner.

"Young girls will get pregnant in their early teenage years or turn to drugs and prostitution.

"Young boys will look to drug dealers as role models rather than a soccer coach, if they do not have one.

"The very children who will ultimately fill that prison are the ones that are most at risk of becoming chemically dependent, destitute or aggressive. These are the ones who now most need supportive after-school programming.'' Her views on young girls getting involved in prostitution highlights a problem that has already been addressed on the Island by the Police. They warned in August that teenage prostitution was becoming a major concern in Bermuda.

After schools activities for young boys, particularly, are major factors in preventing delinquency and the tendency to move to drugs, according to Ms Cooper.

She said: "Schools have an advantage over all other institutions that attempt to address social problems, and that is the fact that they are in touch on a daily basis with every single school-aged child.

"They are, if they have the appropriate resources, in the unique position to identify and ameliorate some of the problems children are facing.'' Ms Cooper stressed it was important not to underestimate the role and responsibility of the family in building self-esteem in children.

She said: "The unfortunate reality is that too many children are growing up in systems where parents are, for one reason or another, unable or unwilling to fulfil that responsibility.'' While remaining focused on the family, schools must provide a `safety net' in case of stress, drug dependency and family violence, according to the Coalition chairman.