KUDOS, OLD MASSETT, MASSET

Old Massett and Masset are showing other islands' communities how to
work together yet another time. In the past, they have cooperated on
water and sewer projects, fire services and the Greater Massett
Development Corporation and more.

Now, they are working together to solve a problem that plagues both of
them, as well as the other communities on the islands.

The problem is drug and alcohol abuse, and it came to a head last
month in the two communities when several young people put their lives
in peril through overconsuming a combination of Ecstasy and alcohol.

That served as a catalyst for a public meeting organized by Arnie
Bellis, Wilson Brown and Beryl Parke.

The meeting brought about 75 people out to talk about the issue, and
talk they did.

One person told the crowd he had come because he thought they were
going to go out and break up a few crack houses.

While that got a few laughs, the issue is serious and those attending
the meeting had lots to offer.

Better communication with the RCMP is probably already happening, as a
couple of police officers were on hand, and asked people to contact
them if they have any information.

Wilson Brown advocated a tough-love approach, and said 'you have to be
able to turn a family member in'.

Other ideas brought up were to bring back the popular Nights Alive
program, which gave young people activities until late in the evening,
to get a new teen centre going (the current one is a mess), working on
a justice agreement between the CHN and Canada and BC (to help ensure
a more responsive court system), education for youth and adults,
publicly exposing and shaming dealers, and more.

There was no shortage of ideas, and the group is meeting again to
discuss them and put some into practice.

Hats off to the organizers and all who attended. Strong community
action can go a long way to reduce this problem. The south end could
use something similar to what this group is doing.

Thumbs down, Regional District

Thumbs down to the Regional District of Skeena Queen Charlotte for not
allowing us to attend its budget meeting Friday by conference call.

This, despite the fact that board members can participate by telephone
when they can't get to Rupert. It's a public meeting, they are
technically set up for conference calls, and yet we were told 'no'.

Islanders have a right to know what is going at the regional district
board, and the meeting Friday was important, as the budget was under
discussion. Higher taxes for islanders were to be discussed, and we
thought it was important to learn first hand what directors were going
to do.

The Regional District has missed a chance to show openness and
communication savvy. It has also missed a chance to better inform
islanders about what it's up to.