— National Drug Master Plan recommends programme in school system

IMPLEMENTING a Drug Abuse Prevention Curriculum at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of Education is among the key recommendations outlined in the recently launched Guyana National Drug Strategy Master Plan 2016-2020. The Master Plan, launched last Friday by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, focuses on five main areas: demand reduction, supply reduction, control measures, institutional strengthening and policy coordination, and international cooperation.

In an effort to reduce the demand for illicit drugs, particularly marijuana and cocaine, the Public Security Ministry, with support from other ministries — such as Social Protection, Public Health and Education — will be developing, implementing, strengthening and updating public policies and programmes as part of a wide-ranging, balanced approach that will ultimately reduce the demand for illicit drugs.

According to the plan, more than $25M will be needed to effectively implement this project in schools and at the level of the university.

The project, expected to be rolled out during the first year of the master plan, will be spearheaded by the Education Ministry, with support from the Public Health and Public Security ministries.

The implementation of the Drug Abuse Prevention Curriculum in schools and at the level of the university forms part of the programmes recommended by the architects of the master plan.

Additionally, it has been recommended that a media strategy be developed to promote Prevention Abuse Awareness.

“Develop a National Communication Media Strategy (NCMS), including the electronic media, print and billboards, to promote substance abuse prevention, to help stop persons from using illicit and licit substances, and to encourage those not involve in the use of ‘substance’ not to start,” Chapter Two of the Master Plan stated.

YOUNG OFFENDERS

Statistical data from the National Drug Strategy Master Plan indicates that a high percentage of young people are falling prey to drugs. It was pointed out that of the 310 persons charged for drug possession in 2014, 288, or 92.9 per cent, were males; while 22, or 7.1 per cent, were females.

“For males, 35 (12.2 per cent) were 18 years and younger; 66, or 21.5 per cent, were between 19 and 25; while 191, or 66.3 per cent, were from the greater-than-25 years age group. For females, two (9.1 per cent) were from the 18-years-and-younger age category; three, or 13.6 per cent, (were from) the 19-to-25-years ago group; and 17, or 77.3 per cent, (were from) from the greater-than-25 years ago group,” Chapter One of the plan stated.

Similar trends were observed for those harvesting, selling or using marijuana.

Marijuana is the only type of illicit drug that is grown or produced in Guyana. According to the Drug Information Network, it is cultivated in the Upper Demerara River; Berbice River; Morganson Village, Upper Berbice River; Hauraruni and Lama Creek; Yarakabra Backdam, Soesdyke, Linden Highway; and First Creek, Kuru Kuru, Linden Highway; Old England; Onderneeming Backdam; Aravio Creek, Demerara River; 5 Miles Ituni; Linden; and 10 Miles, Ituni.

According to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, Berbice River remains a problematic area for the Guyana Police Force’s Anti-Narcotics Branch.

PROGRESS AMID CHALLENGES

Though they both are experiencing challenges as a result of Guyana’s porous borders and the lack of resources – human, financial and technical – CANU and the Guyana Police Force’s Anti-Narcotics Branch continue to crack cases on a regular basis.

To date, the Police Force’s Anti-Narcotics Branch would have aided in the destruction of approximately $18B in cannabis for 2016, when the street value is applied, the Crime Chief pointed out in his presentation.

Additionally, 102 kilograms of cocaine were seized at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), while approximately two kilograms were seized at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle. It was further pointed out that some 323,515 cannabis plants were destroyed, along with 150 acres of cannabis.

The situation is more complex in regard to tackling the supply of cocaine. Because of its geographical location, Guyana is seen as a strategic transshipment route for drugs, primarily cocaine, originating from the producing countries in South America and destined for the largest international markets of North America and Europe.

“Notwithstanding the challenge of the lack of adequate economic resources and institutional capacity to address the problem alone, efforts are being made to address the situation. However, the degree of success to reduce this twin problem will depend largely on bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as the drug problem is a global problem, requiring a global solution,” the architects of the master plan have stated.