Ministry and Leo Club address drugs and alcohol awareness

GREAT BAY – The Ministry of Education, through the Inspectorate of Culture, Youth and Sport, has partnered with the Leo Club of the St. Maarten Lions Club to embark on a drug and alcohol awareness campaign, with its main objective to curb the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol use among our youth.

This initiative came about through recent findings within the Ministry of Education has realized that the number of reports of drug and alcohol use among minors are increasing instead decreasing. Our reports also indicate that younger students in our primary schools are also indulging in drugs and alcohol.

The first information session was held last Monday where ten of the thirteen entities invited were present, as well as other members of the community. “All persons present engaged in the realities of what we are faced with today, globally as well as locally.  All present were also educated on the use of lyrics in music used to promote drug and alcohol use and violence.  They were also enlightened on the ‘street talk’ used amongst our youth to promote this,” the ministry stated in a press release.

It is the intention to have many more informative sessions where we will reach out to the youth organizations, school boards, faculty and students of our schools (primary and secondary level), as well as the parents and guardians of our youth, to further inform, educate and eradicate it among our youth.

At the end of the evening, all attendees signed a pledge of commitment to collaborate in this awareness campaign.

Photo caption: Minister Jacobs, Lions club President Davey Woods, Leo Club advisor Lisandra Ellis-Havertong, the Division of Inspectorate team, Lenworth Wilson Jr., Marciano Geerd, Leo Club members and policy advisor Fabiana Vanterpool-Arnell. Photo contributed