Second Form students at Campus B of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education(D.A.R.E.) Programme on Friday, May 17. The course was facilitated by Officers Shawn Lake and Augustina Carbon of the Community Relations Department of the Royal Anguilla Police Force in partnership with the Education Department.
During the period January to April this year, the students were lectured on such topics as peer pressure; anger management; how to take charge of their lives; and heath, social and legal issues relating to the use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana.
At the graduation ceremony the students were presented with certificates and prizes in recognition of their participation and hard work. The event was chaired by the Director of Youth and Culture, Dwayne Adams, who stated that drug abuse was a very potent problem around the world, including Anguilla, with the use of alcohol being one of the main abuses by young children.
During the ceremony, two students – Kyiv Edwards and Jaralyn Harrigan read letters to Police Commissioner, Rudolph Proctor, in which they argued against the discontinuation of the D. A. R. E. Programme following a period of five years in the schools. Edwards argued that due to increased student awareness, violence and drugs would be reduced in schools thus creating a more peaceful and productive teaching and learning environment. It would also give the police a better public relations image in the community.
Harrigan argued that as a result of the programme there would be less gangs, less drug use and less deaths. “Mr. Commissioner, I have achieved much from this programme, and if you remove it from the school curriculum it may be a decision you will regret,” she warned. Both students were among a number of others who were winners of various prizes for their work.
Replying to the students, Commissioner Proctor said too many young people in Anguilla were turning to violence and crime to settle their differences, as well as to drugs which were having a negative impact on the island. He had no doubt that the D.A.R.E. Programme had provided many benefits for a number of youngsters. He pointed out that it was always the intention of the police “to work with individuals, organisations and institutions to implement programmes and activities to give the youth a chance to make the right choices in life.” He said “such choices would provide them with the skills to deal with conflict in the school setting, the home and the community.”
Mr. Proctor gave the assurance that the D.A.R.E. Programme would be continued in the schools, and that similar projects would be implemented to develop the talents and skills of young people and to assist them to stay clear of crime and disorder. “The Royal Anguilla Police Force will continue to play its role through the D.A.R.E. Programme to engage young people,” he added.
The graduation ceremony ended with remarks by Deputy Principal, Mrs. Melsadis Fleming, who expressed gratitude to Commissioner Proctor and Officers Lake and Carbon for facilitating the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Programme at Campus B. She also commended the students for their participation and for winning a number of prizes.
