a turf war over a youth programme.

Bosses from the National Drug Commission went to the home of treatment coordinator Dr. Lynda Price on Friday to give her the sack -- while she was off ill.

Now Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome has demanded a full report on the incident.

He said: "I have asked the chairman of the NDC to put a report on my desk.

"I need to know exactly what's happened. In terms of the process, this is of concern -- but I have to see the full report before I make any further comment.'' The departure of Dr. Price -- who had been involved in setting up the treatment side of the planned drugs court -- came after she refused to follow NDC executive director Derrick Binns instructions in a row within the Youth Counselling Programme, sources said.

One source said: "I understand there was a problem in there between staff and the programme manager.

"Dr. Binns went in there while Dr. Price was on holiday and encouraged staff to come home with complaints against the manager. When she came back, she was told to fix the problem in the youth programme.

"Dr. Binns basically told her what she could and could not do. But she followed directives from the advisory council and was fired.'' And the insider said: "This will cause serious problems for the Drugs Court -- Dr. Price is the only person on the Island really qualified to set up the treatment programme.'' Last night insiders in the anti-drugs community slammed the NDC, which has a $1.8 million budget, for its record of infighting.

Last night, Dr. Price refused to comment on the row or even to confirm that she had been sacked.

Dr. Binns referred all inquiries to the chairman of the NDC's governing body, Malcolm Butterfield.

But Dr. Binns said: "I can see how some might want to put that interpretation on this.'' Mr. Butterfield would only confirm that Dr. Price was no loner the treatment coordinator of the NDC when contacted last night and refused to confirm if she had been dismissed.

"It would not be appropriate to discuss the basis of that decision in the media,'' he said, adding that her departure was "amicable'' and was handled in accordance with her employment contract.

Drugs war Mr. Butterfield refused to comment on whether the NDC was happy with Dr.

Price's work.

He dismissed claims that she was the only person available to design treatment programmes for the drugs court, saying there were other qualified staff within the NDC and elsewhere in the community who could do the work.

He also said that a full search would be conducted to find a replacement for Dr. Price.

Some insiders predicted the row owuld be the death knell of the NDC, which has overall responsibility for drug treatment on the Island and a $1.8 million budget.

The insider said: "The question which has to be asked is if this is still a viable initiative.

"It's been nearly a decade and it still hasn't stabilised -- it hasn't produced any stable initiatives or set any clear objectives in terms of policy studies.''