A Grand Manan man has been charged with arson in connection with an attack on an alleged crack house on the island last month.

Lloyd Bainbridge, 31, appeared in St. Stephen provincial court on Thursday. He didn't enter a plea and will remain in jail until his bail hearing, scheduled for Aug. 18.

Bainbridge is the fifth man to be charged in connection with a riot on July 22 in which about 40 people — some reportedly armed with guns, knives and baseball bats — burned a house to the ground in the island community of Castalia where drugs were allegedly being sold.

During the melee, four male residents of the home were badly beaten, and a woman was escorted off the island for her own safety. Shots were fired at a car but the driver was not hurt. Several people suffered minor injuries.

In the weeks since the riot took place, the RCMP have increased police presence to prevent further violence, but public frustration with the island's drug problem has persisted.

Politicians visit island to discuss drug problem

In a meeting with Grand Manan residents Thursday night, provincial NDP leader Allison Brewer said the island's young people are in crisis, and sending more police will not solve the drug problem.

"The Department of Health and Community Services should be here with social workers," said Brewer.

"The Department of Sport and Tourism could come over here and set up some good solid sports programs for youth. The Department of Employment and Training could be pouring resources in here in terms of educating and training young people for meaningful employment."

Greg Thompson, a federal cabinet minister from New Brunswick, said the situation on Grand Manan shows why the Conservative government in Ottawa is committed to getting tougher on drug dealers.

"[We have to] make it more difficult for those that want to deal drugs to conduct their business, and carrying on the types of behaviour they appear to been carrying on in many communities across the country, big and small alike," Thompson said.