Minister of Health and Social Services the Hon. Quinton Edness received criticism this week for his statement referring to PLP candidate for Paget East Mr. Rolfe Commissiong.

On Sunday Mr. Edness told The Royal Gazette that he disagreed with Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade for describing Mr. Commissiong, a convicted bank robber, as being an example to young Bermudians gone astray.

Mr. Wade made the comment while defending his choice of Mr. Commissiong as the PLP candidate for Paget East.

But in defence of Mr. Commissiong, Progressive Labour Party MP Mr. Nelson Bascome said yesterday that he was concerned with Mr. Edness' comments especially in light of the Tumim report and the Archibald report which puts emphasis on rehabilitation.

He said: "With regards to rehabilitation, one would have thought that Mr.

Edness would have been professional in his approach rather than political concerning Mr. Rolfe Commissiong.

"He (Mr. Edness) also fails to recognise that he has recommended several persons who have had past criminal convictions to sit on prominent Government boards and committees. And in a society the size of Bermuda when does one stop paying the price?'' Mr. Edness also said on Sunday that using Mr. Commissiong as a role model for young people was like "holding up a drug addict and saying just because he is reformed he is an example to others.'' In response to the negative feedback received from his statement Mr. Edness answered yesterday: "What I intended to say, was in providing an example to our young people you should not say to them here is a person that was a drug addict, he is now rehabilitated, so he is a good role model for you.

"What you really want to say is that this is not the way to go. You need to stay away from drugs all together, however this is a person who has been there and can say to you that this is not something you want to get involved with.'' In other words he added: "You don't want to hold the addicts up as part of an example, you don't want to say `you can follow this person he's been on drugs'.'' Mr. Edness also said he was making a comparison of Mr. Commissiong and criticising Mr. Wade "because I was surprised he selected him as a candidate.

"Mr. Wade said he (Mr. Commissiong) was a model for young Bermudians who have gone astray.

"I compliment Mr. Commissiong for fighting his way back from that situation but the model we wish to give to our kids is not to get involved in that kind of behaviour in the first place.

"When a person takes up a gun to rob a bank that is a calculated decision that a person has to make. You are in charge of that. But when you take your first drink you don't think, at that time, that you will become an alcoholic.

"We should not have to say to our young people, here is a good role model to follow in case you get into trouble or once you have been in trouble.'' Dr.

Eva Hodgson head of the National Association for Reconciliation backed up Mr.

Wade's choice of Mr. Commissiong yesterday and said: "Mr. Commissiong is clearly an intelligent, bright, socially conscious and concerned individual who, with maturity, has recognised that even in a racist society he must adjust his conduct so that his anger and frustration is socially productive rather than destructive.'' She added: "He, more than most current legislators, is in the position to understand the dynamics of turning self destructive frustration and anger to more constructive conduct.

"That kind of understanding and leadership, whichever party it comes from, is essential at this time when even black males who are socially conformist to the point of being members of the UBP are wiped out financially.

"Frustrated, desperate black men need representation with this kind of painful experience, the black community needs such representation and Bermuda needs this kind of representation.'' Mrs. Marie Alves Picard, who is an addiction therapist at the Behavioral Recovery Service said she had to disagree with statement made by Mr. Edness involving drug addicts.

"We have a society in Bermuda with an alcohol and drug problem of 40 percent according to the Archibald Report on health and addiction problems. "With all due respect, Mr. Edness is working hard to solve the community problems he is dealing with, but any person living in recovery from addiction has to be acknowledged.

"It is important because they have now become an asset to society instead of a liability which is what costs our Government and community a great deal.'' Mrs. Alves Picard added that addiction is a disease and is no different from any other disease, and when it is combated it should be a victory that is celebrated in the community.

"I do not know Mr. Commissiong, but he is one of those people that has made a change, and has become an active functioning asset in our society.

"I hardly think the PLP would look for someone who wasn't an asset.'' She added: "I could not stand by that statement as a recovering addict and an addiction therapist.'' Mr. Commissiong, 37, served more than five years of an eight-year prison sentence after admitting, in 1984, to robbing the Southampton Princess branch of the Bank of Butterfield at gunpoint on October 18 1983.

While disguised in a mask, Mr. Commissiong entered the bank and forced three bank tellers at gunpoint to hand him more than $30,000 in cash and papers.

Upon his arrest Police found the money and nearly $6,000 in travellers cheques in a brown shopping bag.

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