20 students say ‘No’ to drugs

Policewoman Thora Shepherd, assigned to the community police unit, addressed the graduation of boys and girls, during which she warned that drug use was on the rise. “It is important to say ‘No.’ Drugs is a very serious thing; you may not know the severity of it now at your tender age but you will, as you grow older.”

The DARE programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security. The 20 students were from Guapo Government Primary School.

The graduation was also held at the school, after a four-month programme. The students were taught the dangers about drugs and the various ways to resist them. Each of them received a certificate of participation. The certificates were distributed by acting ASP Haynes Fraser and the Guapo Government Primary School principal Rangee Persad. In her address, Shepherd warned that drug addiction begins when children are sent to shops by their parents to buy alcohol and cigarettes.