MV freewinds contributes to educate on drug prevention, treatment and care

The MV Freewinds has contributed greatly to the education on drug prevention, treatment and care, says Acting Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Shawn Richards, speaking at a ceremony to mark the ship’s 31st anniversary of its maiden voyage on June 15 at Port Zante in Basseterre.

The acting prime minister noted that in early 2019, Port Captain Kenneth Weber, paid a visit to the island’s National Drug Council on Drug Abuse Prevention. In January, the captain delivered copies of training manuals on drug prevention, treatment and care.

“From speaking with the Council’s Director, Ms. Karimu Byron, content from these manuals will be utilized by our University of the West Indies (UWI) certified specialist throughout St. Kitts and Nevis, 28 of whom specialize in drug prevention education, while another 29 specialize in drug treatment and recovery,” said the acting prime minister.

He stated that the MV Freewinds’ important work form part of the Drug Prevention and Treatment Services Inc., which was established in June 2015 under the auspices of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention.

“Indeed, the Freewinds’ kind donation will benefit persons such as the residents of Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP), who this month will start an eight-week programme organized by the National Drug Council,” said the acting prime minister. “This eight week programme is specially formulated for inmates who are scheduled to be released shortly and who were involved in drugs before their incarceration. Twelve residents already graduated from this eight-week programme back in late March.”

The work of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention in the Federation’s prison system and the support given to it by the Freewinds “promote my Team Unity Administration’s efforts at reducing jail and prison incarceration and reoffending rates in St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said.

Acting Prime Minister Richards extended his profound gratitude to the Freewinds for its drug prevention efforts, spearheaded through the Truth About Drugs Global Programme, which is now one of the world’s largest nongovernmental drug information and prevention initiatives.

“The work of the Truth About Drugs Campaign, which is overseen by the nonprofit Foundation for a Drug Free World is based on studies showing that drug usage rates among people drop when they are told the truth about drugs,” said the acting prime minister.