TOP: Part of the audience at the opening of the IEP’s 12th Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week at the school’s auditorium, located at 2 Canaan Road, La Romaine.
ABOVE: Badase Maharaj, Schools Supervisor, Victoria Division; Senior Supt Simon Alexis and Harrack Balramsingh, chairman of the IEP Board of Education.

The La Romaine Integrated Education Project (IEP), of Servol and the Ministry of Education, which is located at 2 Canaan Road, La Romaine, observed its 12th annual Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week from November 16 to 20. Students and teachers from Naparima Girls’ High School, Asja Boys’ College, Southern Academy, La Romaine High School, San Fernando West Secondary and San Fernando Boys’ Government Primary joined with the IEP in making this year’s drug awareness week a grand success. St Benedict’s College was also represented by three-time Junior Calypso Champion Michael Hudlin.

“The principals of these schools should be highly commended for their wisdom in recognising the dangers of substance abuse and their willingness to do something about it,” said Harrack Balramsingh, Chairman of the IEP Board of Education. Students of the IEP performed a skit on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse and they were so impressive that Senior Supt of Police Simon Alexis told them that they had the talent to perform very creditably at the new Performing Arts Centre. He pleaded with the student to do positive things to have a natural high.

Warning young people
Supt Alexis, who was speaking at the opening, on behalf of Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert, warned students that although alcohol could be purchased over the counter, it was an offence to purchase it under the age of 18. He also stated that proprietors and their employees who sold alcohol to young people under the age of 18 could be charged up to $5,000. He blamed many aspects of domestic violence on alcohol and illegal drugs.

Supt Alexis stated that the use of drugs was a worldwide problem and quoted from a 2005 United Nations report which indicated that over 200 million people around the world abused illegal drugs. “It also affects T&T and can be blamed for deteriorating communities and the increase in crimes,” he said. Alexis pointed out that the Dangerous Drug Act had 122 different substances for which they could be charged. He noted that marijuana was the most abused drug, followed by cocaine. He said there was a smaller demand for heroin. He told students to be careful of friends they associate with, since they could be culpable if illegal drugs were found on any premises, including their own homes.

Drugs cause gang warfare
“A lot of gang warfare and violence permeate the society, based on either fighting for drugs or selling drugs,” Supt Alexis said. “If you are found in possession of drugs, regardless of the amount, within 500 yards of a school, you can be incarcerated for 35 years and up to life,” he told students. He praised the IEP and its board of education for organising an annual alcohol and drug awareness week for the past 12 years.

Zero tolerance on drug abuse
Badase Maharaj, Schools Supervisor III, who represented the Education Minister at the formal opening on Monday, told students and teachers present that the Ministry had always had a zero-tolerance policy on substance abuse. He pointed out that the Ministry had recently issued a National Code of Conduct for all schools. “There are several clauses and pieces of information which directly stress the zero tolerance the Ministry of Education and by extension the Government places on the use and abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol,” he said.

Summing up
Summing up this year’s awareness week, Harrack Balramsingh, who has coordinated the event since its inception, said: “There is now more support for the IEP’s alcohol and drug awareness week because citizens are now recognising that most of the violence among our young people is alcohol and drug related. “Students who stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs are hardly likely to become involved in gangs and other anti-social activities,” he pointed out. “This view is now being supported by many because there is growing evidence that most young criminals and delinquents abuse alcohol and/or illegal drugs,” said Balramsingh.