School Boards meet to discuss smokes/drinks ban

Several secondary schools annually host fund-raising events including Carnival fetes at their school compounds. These events have bars serving a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and smoking also takes place.

St Mary’s hosts the annual Dining with the Saints on the school compound. In an interview yesterday, Sedley Joseph of the Past Students Union said the policy will have to be discussed at the next meeting of the union on the September 11.

Joseph said he could not comment on how the policy would affect functions hosted at the school until after the meeting.

Hugh Walke a member of the School Board for Queen’s Royal College said the policy would be discussed by the board “to come up with a reaction.”

The School Policy on Drug Abuse and Prevention — Towards a Smoke-Free Environment, states that the Ministry has a zero tolerance against illegal drugs and “any drug including alcohol or tobacco should not be used by any student, staff, parent, school personnel on the school compound except in special circumstances approved by the Ministry.” Alcohol includes whisky, rum, wine, beer, stout, homemade wine and rum.

Communications specialist Mervyn Critchlow said the policy covers events on school premises where children were involved. “The policy is with respect to all school activity” he said.

Asked about events taking place outside of school hours, he referred Newsday to the policy document.

He said the Ministry consulted different groups to develop the policy.