Use of drugs in schools in Reg 7 a concern for authorities – Police Commander

The use of illicit drugs in schools in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) has become a cause for concern for the law enforcement authorities, since the substances are becoming more accessible to children.
Only recently, Divisional Commander Superintendent Dion Moore related that several complaints were received of school children engaging in the use of illegal substances.

“We recognise that the children, for some reason or the other, we’ve been getting complaints that some of them are engaged in the use, maybe, of drugs, and are involved in other types of behaviour that (are) unwarranted. We are not sure whether it’s a fact, but it is something that we will be working on,” he has said.
“I had a discussion with the Regional Education Officer, and she give the undertaking that she welcomed the initiative, that she’ll work with us,” he has said.
Commander Moore has said that action will be taken against those found using illicit drugs.
“Sometime next (week), we’ll be visiting one of those schools. The school has already been identified… We’ll check it out first to see if that’s a fact, and then we’ll do our sensitisation programme with them (students), to allow them to understand the danger,” the Commander has promised.
Commander Moore has also urged parents to pay closer attention to their children, and monitor their behaviour.
“(Regarding) the use of narcotics, the first thing (is) it is illegal; and as parents, (you should) monitor your child’s behaviour. If, for any reason, you recognize that your child is behaving differently, start checking on that child: monitor the manner in which they go to school, and go as far as even looking at how their grades are going.
“As long as you seen that they have been absenting and the grades are going differently, then something is amiss. It may not necessarily mean that the child is involved in the use of drugs; it might be other things. In everything you (do), there’s something called a domino effect; one thing (leading) to another, and the other to a next,” the Commander has said.
“Equally, as Police, it is always better for us to guide the children and teach them ways and means of how they can better themselves, rather than for us (to) investigate a matter where they would have committed themselves,” the Commander added.
Moore pointed out that, due to the many ports of entry into the region, despite the various preventative measures being put in place by the Police, these illegal substances somehow find a way into the communities.
“Given the fact that the region is connected to so many other regions, its several ports of entry into the region, persons try to traffic narcotics across the region, some for consumption and some for continuation into other areas,” he explained. “We are working (on) the various checkpoints. We do find narcotics very regularly, and we will continue, we won’t stop,” he promised.
Further, the Commander has issued a stern warning to persons who are luring minors into the use of drugs.
“I’ll be happy to first catch those persons who are luring children into the use of drugs, but I want to say to them that they are endangering the lives and putting the children at risk by luring them into using drugs and committing other acts that are not allowed by law. And they are equally guilty of the same offence, so they can be punished and will be punished once they are caught; they should desist (from this practice),” he advised.
Meanwhile, speaking on criminal activities in the division, the Commander related that his ranks have discovered seven firearms for the year thus far. He said that five of the seven belonged to a private owner, who had reported them stolen.
“As recent as last Friday, we had convictions. Two persons were placed before the court after we would have found a total of five (guns) within a short period. Those matters went before the court, and one has been remanded. The other one was sentenced.
“Prior to those, three matters are still pending before the court,” the Commander further explained.