NASSAU, The Bahamas — A massive four-point march and rally against drugs and crime has been planned for Sunday, June 26, by officials of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat of the Ministry of National Security.<\/p>\n
The four-point march will get underway simultaneously at 3pm Sunday from the Police Headquarters, East Street; College of The Bahamas Playing Field, Poinciana Drive; Super Value Food Store Parking Lot, East Street and Robinson Road and JBR on Wulff Road, will also be used to observe International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.<\/p>\n
Bands from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Her Majesty\u2019s Prison and the Pathfinders will lead the marches which will eventually converge into one at East Street and conclude at Windsor Park where a mini- anti-drugs and crime rally will be held.<\/p>\n
Other participating bands will include the Church of God Band, St. Barnabas Church Band, St. Ambrose Church Band, Church of God of Prophecy Band, Boys Brigade and the Farm Road Urban renewal Band.<\/p>\n
NADS personnel, along with counterparts from the various government ministries\/corporations, departments and agencies, in addition to non-governmental agencies and civil society, have been working on the logistics of the four-point march for sometime.<\/p>\n
The groups, which include representatives from the Ministries of National Security, Health, Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Labour and Social Development have joined forces to form a multi-sectoral committee that has been responsible for organising a number of anti-drugs and crime events \u2013 including the four-point march..<\/p>\n
Mr. Shervin Lloyd, Drug Reduction Officer, NADS, and Chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee, said the march will allow Bahamians from all walks of life, denominations, communities, sporting and cultural organisations and groups, and other community and non-governmental groups to join forces and send a singular message \u201cagainst the scourge of drug and gun trafficking and crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bottom line is that we must all unite in this war on illicit drugs and gun trafficking and crime and violence,\u201d Mr. Lloyd said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe march will allow persons to put differences aside \u2013 whether they are of different religious and\/or political views \u2013 and send a strong message that drugs and crime are a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Lloyd said the uniting of the bands and marches into one, is designed to send a further signal of unity in the war on drugs and crime.<\/p>\n
The four-point march is part of a National Anti-Drugs and Crime Awareness Campaign that has been designed to help reverse the rising crime, criminality and violence impacting the country.<\/p>\n
The campaign hopes to establish \u201can effective public\/private sector partnership\u201d for the implementation of a nation-wide comprehensive and sustained campaign that will be focused on \u201creducing the use and abuse of drugs while simultaneously reducing the levels of crime, criminality and violence\u201d through the creation of positive opportunities for at-risk individuals and groups within those inner-city communities where crime, criminality and violence are more pervasive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new initiative is designed to inspire and strengthen every strata of the Bahamian community to think and act positively,\u201d said NADS Director, Captain Godfrey Rolle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts focus is on uplifting all gender and age-groups, particularly within the inner-city communities,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Captain Rolle said the \u201csuccess and sustainability\u201d of the campaign will require the \u201cfull commitment and participation\u201d of schools, churches, community groups, sporting and other social clubs, law enforcement agencies, private citizens and\u00a0 corporate Bahamas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe campaign\u2019s underlying message of restoring and strengthening hope, love, character, philanthropy and the spirit of industry will be communicated and promoted through a variety of platforms,\u201d Captain Rolle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will allow us to get into the inner-cities, identify community leaders whether it is religious, civic or community, to get involved and (develop) solutions that can address the problem of drugs and crime,\u201d Captain Rolle added.<\/p>\n
By Matt Maura
\nBahamas Information Services<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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