Anti Drug and Substance Abuse Strategy for St. Lucia

Contact: Julita Peter

Thursday, February 10, 2000 – The Substance Abuse Council Secretariat, along with other key players in the anti-drug effort, met on Thursday to finalize the draft for a National Anti Drug and Substance Abuse Strategy for St. Lucia. The exercise was a follow-up to a consultation where the first draft was compiled in November 1999.

Director of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat, Carol Mondesir says, the anti drug effort necessitates the input of all key players, as the drug menace is becoming increasingly entrenched. The longer we take to act, she said, the more disastrous the results will be.

St Lucia’s Minister for Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Labour Honourable Velon John echoed the sentiments. He suggested it was necessary to make the drug trade difficult and costly to undertake.

"It is a cost that should impact on one’s freedom, one’s resources, and one’s social acceptability, for the drug dealers must be perceived as the pariah in the community of men. The National Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Strategy is cause to put money where our mouth is. It is a test of our commitment to a very noble cause, which is the eradication of the drug menace," said the Minister.

The National Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Strategy is guided by core issues as enunciated in government’s policy. These include the vigorous pursuit of all avenues and the utilization of all available resources to arrest the trafficking of illicit drugs, into, within and out of St. Lucia, ensuring that the proceeds from the disposal of property and/or money from illicit drugs-related activities are forfeited by the courts and are used towards strengthening the capability of the island’s law enforcement agencies and other anti drug institutions, and strengthening international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and money laundering.

The refined document is expected to be taken to Cabinet for approval by month end.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Search for 2000 Press Releases ] [Site Help]

© 2001 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.