NEW BODY TO MONITOR DRUG USE

The majority of drug abusers have been found to be in the transport,
manufacturing and construction sectors.

And more women are imprisoned for drug trafficking, while men are
imprisoned for possession.

This was revealed yesterday at the launch of the National Drug Observatory
of Trinidad and Tobago (NDOTT) at the La Boucan, Hilton Trinidad. The
Observatory is said to be the first of its kind in the region.

The NDOTT will provide information on the anti-drug initiative, including
national, regional and international trends and research in drug use,
production and trafficking. The National Drug Information System, (NDIS) is
the statistical component of the NDOTT. The NDIS is a centralised
collection point for data from key stakeholders and creates an environment
for stakeholders which include the Prison, Immigration, Police, Tobago
House of Assembly, NADAAP, and the Counter Crime Task Force, to
collaborate, network and exchange information.

The launch was attended by members of the representing groups, and had as
the feature speaker Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security,
Fitzgerald Hinds.

Also addressing the gathering was a representative from Director of the
Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Andrew Johnson, who
presented Minister Hinds with a study done by the Chamber on "The Impact of
the Drug Problem on The Business Sector in Trinidad and Tobago."

According to Johnson the report focussed on demographics, working
environment, perceived problem prevalence, business impact, productivity
and performance, risk assessment and corporate responses to the increasing
prevalence of illegal drugs in our society.

He said the study showed the sectors with the highest prevalence of abuse
and misuse were the transport, manufacturing and construction sectors.

"Attention needs to be focused on the psychological and social state of our
workforce and we need to implement effective management solutions to deal
with the problem," Johnson said.

Esther Best of the National Drug Council in displaying to the attendants
how the Observatory works said according to data collected, of all the
females under the age of 35 who have been incarcerated for drug related
crimes, the majority of them were incarcerated for trafficking.

Best questioned if it was a case of greed for the women, that they were
into trafficking, and if the men just had drugs for their own use.

Best said with the high numbers for possession, there was more need for
research to find out who should be in the prison system and who should be
sent for help and rehabilitation. She said with the Prison system, now
looking towards reform and rehabilitation these are issues to be considered.

Hinds in his address said that very often the issue of drug abuse is
regarded as someone else's problem.

"I can assure you, however, that the more of our young productive
population that is imprisoned for drugs and other criminal activities, the
greater the responsibility that is placed on all our shoulders to get
involved and actively contribute to addressing this problem."

He also pointed out that the drug trade was arguably the best example of
the free market at work.

"Even in the face of hostility from state forces everywhere, the constant
need for clandestine operations and without the benefit of formal
advertising, the drug market is truly international in its reach and
whenever there is a weak and poor soul, the drug merchants can supply his
addiction," he said.

The Observatory also seeks to educate the general public on government's
policies, projects and initiatives aimed at combating the problem of
illicit drugs in the country, while highlighting activities being
undertaken by non-governmental organisations.