Everyone agrees that drugs are a major problem in Bermuda. Recently there has been alarm because of the use of heroin and the continued choice of crack cocaine. Surveys show that drug abuse may be the primary concern of Bermudians. Bermudians see drugs and the ramifications of drugs as a direct threat to their lifestyle. Drug abuse is certainly a concern and a worry for parents.

It seems to this newspaper that the problem gets worse and that action against drugs has been delayed all along the way by the Progressive Labour Party's refusal to cooperate and refusal to help. We think that the Progressive Labour Party is unable to make its mind up about drugs. Perhaps it does not care.

First the party refused to help Dr. David Archibald in his study of Bermuda's problem by refusing to serve on his drugs strategy team. This was not just some ordinary committee where lack of participation by the PLP did not matter much. This was a major project where Bermuda's unity of purpose against drugs was vital.

Then the PLP rushed quickly to cover its blunder by promising its own drugs strategy report which it failed to produce for the people.

Then the Leader of the PLP took to attacking the Interim Steering Committee and the embryo National Drug Commission. The Leader of the Opposition, followed by a number of Opposition MPs, used the floor of the House of Assembly to attack the Interim Steering Committee into a National Drug Commission. This is the same PLP which refused to help Dr. Archibald and which failed to produce its own drugs report.

If Bermuda has a chance of making real progress against drugs, it is through the National Drugs Commission. This newspaper has maintained from the very beginning that drugs and alcohol impact on every section of Bermuda and on every person and should be above politics. The PLP should understand that and get to work and help instead of hindering.

But the PLP does not or will not understand that. The things the Opposition says and does continually get in the way and hamper the best efforts of concerned and dedicated people to move against drugs.

Dr. Archibald, who knows his stuff, intended that the National Drugs Commission should be an independent non-partisan organisation, composed of high calibre citizens, representing different interests but non-political. He felt that in that way all the public would have a sense of confidence in the Commission and the whole Country could move against drugs and alcohol. But the PLP did not help.

Yet every time the Commission is discussed the PLP kicks it nearly to death and then complains that it is not doing anything.

Now the PLP has attacked the appointment of Mrs. Eugenie Simmons as the new executive officer of the National Drug Commission. We can only think that the PLP had a candidate for the job who was not appointed. Or maybe this is just more disruption.

The PLP questions whether Mrs. Simmons has a full understanding of the Island's substance abuse problem. The truth is that no-one does. Drug abuse is too serious a subject for laughter but note that the PLP then questions Government's commitment against drugs and announces that the PLP is committed to the fight against drugs.

The PLP has never demonstrated one tiny bit of commitment. It has openly obstructed progress against drug abuse. It has complained and criticised but it has not contributed.

It is time for the PLP to get out of the way and let those who are doing something constructive get on with the very vital job.