Treatment Centre To Be Named After Bascome

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise this Honourable House of the completion of a project that began with a Throne Speech promise of the previous Government in 2006.

Substance abuse treatment under the Department for National Drug Control operates out of rented facilities, subject to the control of landlords, the payment of market rents and the potential to be moved with notice under a lease agreement.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Bermuda occupies a site under a 21 year lease from the West End Development Corporation and the now completed conversion of the Captains-in Charge building provides a long-term, stable location for men’s and women’s treatment and expands the bed capacity to meet the demand for substance abuse treatment in the community.

Currently, there are 22 residential beds for males, 10 of those provided by the Salvation Army’s Harbourlight programme. There are only 8 residential treatment beds for women. The effect of this is to limit the length of treatment provided and creates a potential waiting-list for those in need of this kind of intensive attention.

The new facility increases the bed capacity for males from 12 to 24 and for females from 8 to 12. Additionally, the men’s treatment programme will now have the capacity to offer treatment for up to 12 months, similar to that already offered to women. Research supports the premise that the longer clients are engaged in treatment, the greater their likelihood of eventual success in recovery.

Mr. Speaker, the women’s treatment programme has been internationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities since 2009 and it is anticipated that the Men’s Treatment programme will obtain similar accreditation by March 2014. The ultimate goal of this new facility is to provide high quality, accessible substance abuse treatment in a home-like environment, equipping men and women to return to the community to lead healthy and productive lives.

Mr. Speaker, suffice it to say, the completion of this project has been challenging. Construction started in August 2009 and earlier this year it became apparent that some sense of urgency was required to impress upon internal and external service providers the need to finish the work. This had its desired effect Mr. Speaker as the Ministry received a certificate of Completion and Occupancy on 30th May 2013; almost four years after construction began.

Mr. Speaker, having set out for Honourable Members the treatment aims of the facility and also given an indication of its importance to substance abuse treatment in this community, it is only right that the name reflect the those same goals and ideals.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda that the facility will be known as “The Nelson Bascome Centre for Substance Abuse Treatment”.

Mr. Speaker, the late Honourable Member was dedicated to the treatment of addicts and began his career in 1980 in the Department of Social Services as a Residential Care Worker. In 1990 Nelson Bascome was the first Bermudian to be designated a Certified Employee Assistance Professional or CEAP. He was also programme director for the Salvation Army’s Harbourlight programme and was among the first to qualify as a Certified Clinical Supervisor (1997) and an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counsellor (1997).

Mr. Speaker, you will know that the late Honourable Member was also the first Minister of Health under the Progressive Labour Party Government and was responsible for the then National Drug Commission and the promotion of the Alternatives to Incarceration initiative which is consistent with a career of restoring men and women to productive lives in this community.

We promised during the election campaign that we would “….break down the walls of division in Bermuda for a future based on teamwork, tolerance and collaboration…” This choice of name is unanimously supported by the Cabinet and the Parliamentary Group and we are leading by example in keeping the promise we made. Mr. Speaker, political differences are no barrier to the recognition of dedicated service.

The Nelson Bascome Centre for Substance Abuse Treatment will be opened on Wednesday, June 26th at 4pm and my hope is that Honourable Members will attend as we mark an historic transition to a purpose built facility aimed at treating the disease of addiction and recognizing, in a truly meaningful way, the life’s commitment of a former member of this Honourable House.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

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