The Manicou Report

I lived in the US for four years before returning to Trinidad last year. Readjusting to Trinidad was a little difficult at times. However, the thing that shocked me the most was the bad attitudes we have towards alcohol. I remember the first time I saw a man pop a beer open at 7am, I stared at him in disbelief. I think he saw me staring too, because he had this “what yuh watching me so for” look on his face. This wasn’t one of those 60 year old guys who live at the bar. He couldn’t have been more than 25. A 25 year old man, downing a Carib at 7am. Who the hell has beer for breakfast? It still shocks me to this day and I’ve seen scores of others since then.

So this story in the Express about the usage of drugs, alcohol and tobacco among secondary school students is far from astonishing. In a survey run by the Ministry of Education, it found that of the 4,058 pupils sampled from the 56 secondary schools which participated in the survey, approximately 13.7 per cent of them admitted they had tried marijuana, and 37.5 per cent admitted to using cigarettes. Alcohol use had the highest prevalence overall though, with 73 per cent of the students saying they had tried alcohol.

As a result, the Ministry of Education has declared it would roll out a new Drug Abuse and Prevention Policy document which is aimed at making all schools smoke and drug free. Part of that drug policy would be to prevent schools from accepting money, gifts or sponsorship from tobacco and alcohol companies. In addition to this, all tobacco and alcohol advertising in public spaces such as bill boards and signs in sports facilities have been prohibited.

Well it is about time that they did something like this. Anyone who went to secondary school in Trinidad knows that tobacco and alcohol use among students -even during school hours is not something new. I’m just surprised that it took so long for them to take a stand.

No More Outta de Blue?

What I would really like to know is what does this mean for the future of the school bazaar and their school fete? If they really want to do something about alcohol and cigarette consumption among students, then stop the double standard that sees them selling it on school premises. Alcohol in a fete is big business and I’m sure comprises the majority of the profits. I’ll really like to see how principals respond to these new mandates. What will be the future of Rosary Boy’s Soca X2 or QRC’s Outta de Blue?

However low the profits drop, it will be well worth it not to have children turn into addicts by the time Form 3 rolls around.