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.
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.
Bands from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Her Majesty’s 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.
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.
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.
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 – including the four-point march..
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 “against the scourge of drug and gun trafficking and crime.”
“The bottom line is that we must all unite in this war on illicit drugs and gun trafficking and crime and violence,” Mr. Lloyd said.
“The march will allow persons to put differences aside – whether they are of different religious and/or political views – and send a strong message that drugs and crime are a waste of time.”
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.
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.
The campaign hopes to establish “an effective public/private sector partnership” for the implementation of a nation-wide comprehensive and sustained campaign that will be focused on “reducing the use and abuse of drugs while simultaneously reducing the levels of crime, criminality and violence” 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.
“This new initiative is designed to inspire and strengthen every strata of the Bahamian community to think and act positively,” said NADS Director, Captain Godfrey Rolle.
“Its focus is on uplifting all gender and age-groups, particularly within the inner-city communities,” he added.
Captain Rolle said the “success and sustainability” of the campaign will require the “full commitment and participation” of schools, churches, community groups, sporting and other social clubs, law enforcement agencies, private citizens and corporate Bahamas.
“The campaign’s 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,” Captain Rolle said.
“It 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,” Captain Rolle added.
By Matt Maura
Bahamas Information Services
