Premier On Pride Bermuda Red Ribbon Event
Yesterday [Oct 22] the Premier and Minister of National Security Michael Dunkley participated in the 17th Annual PRIDE Red Ribbon event.
The Premier said, “Red Ribbon Week is an Annual International Celebration of Prevention that serves to bring attention to the drug problem and provides a time for us to focus on drug prevention and education. This special week is a time to help build community awareness regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. It is a time for gratitude for all the lives that remain drug free.
“It is a time to pledge to live a safe drug-free life and it is also a time to remember those we have lost in the fight against drugs. I would also like to use it as a time to thank PRIDE Bermuda for all the work they do in helping our people to live healthy, drug-free lives.”
Premier Dunkley’s full statement follows below:
Good afternoon,
Thank you to pride Bermuda for having me here today to celebrate the launch of Red Ribbon Week 2014.
I am pleased to see so many people wearing red in support of this most worthy cause.
For those of you who didn’t know, Red Ribbon Week is an Annual International Celebration of Prevention that serves to bring attention to the drug problem and provides a time for us to focus on drug prevention and education. This special week is a time to help build community awareness regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. It is a time for gratitude for all the lives that remain drug free.
It is a time to pledge to live a safe drug-free life and it is also a time to remember those we have lost in the fight against drugs. I would also like to use it as a time to thank PRIDE Bermuda for all the work they do in helping our people to live healthy, drug-free lives.
Today’s event also offers a chance for me to remind people that the Liquor License Amendment Act came into effect on 1st October 2014 and saw the new regime for mandatory ID carding. The aim of the Act is to add to the safeguards required to prevent underage drinking. Underage drinking and its associated problems have profound negative consequences for minors, their families, their communities, and the society as a whole.
This Act will compliment efforts by organizations like PRIDE, providing the enforcement safety net also required as part of reversing any trend towards alcohol abuse in the community. The Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre [BARC] found that some 307 persons sought assistance for substance abuse and dependence in 2013.
In May we released the National Drug Control Master Plan and Action Plan 2013-2017, which represents the second National Strategy on Drugs.
The National Drug Control Plan is based on an extensive stakeholder and community-wide needs assessment and is intended to implement policies and programmes that will reduce the harms caused by alcohol and other drug use.
The plan supports a comprehensive focus on approaches that address drug-use prevention; drug abuse treatment; research, legislation, law enforcement and interdiction; protection of the borders; drug supply reduction; international cooperation; and monitoring and evaluation.
The harms resulting from illicit drugs in our country are consistently identified as contributing to our social ills.
It is my belief that we need to be united in our vision for a healthy and drug-free community with each sector of the community playing its role. I want to take this opportunity to salute our treatment service providers who are on the front lines of helping those who are suffering with addiction.
In conclusion, thank you to all of those who are here with me today for this 17th Annual Red Ribbon event where we celebrate PRIDE’S vision of: “Bermuda Strong: High on Life”
Thank You.
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Why don’t we ever have the huge turnouts and support for things that actually kill a lot of people? Like heart disease.
I suggest that you look at what is happening in portugal and other countries/states that have made moves towards legalization not only of the ill reputed harmless herbs, but all drugs. Portugals approach (legalizing all drugs ) has, and still continues to have a positive effect on all issues concerning drug use abuse and supply.
I know you are all concerned about your jobs that have been created pursuing your failed approach… ie the war on drug’s. Nevertheless it is time to take a different approach in the light of the real results, positive results happening around the globe as we speak.
Read up before you respond.
Still reading?