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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Only together can we fight drugs – Minister Lloyd |27 June 2009

Only together can we fight drugs – Minister Lloyd

The interfaith committee against drug abuse is presented to the crowd

The Minister of Health and Social Development said that apart from intensifying measures already being taken nationally, there is a need to boost moral and spiritual values in our people, especially the younger generation, to ensure they are properly guided when making choices in life.

Mrs Lloyd was speaking at Freedom Square just before she rang the bell to launch a solidarity march around Victoria against drug abuse.

The event had been organised by the Campaign for Awareness, Resilience and Education against substance abuse (Care) to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

It was held under the theme: Come Together Seychellois against drug abuse and trafficking. 
Mrs Lloyd’s message echoed that of Sarah Rene, Care chairperson, who had called on the government to intensify religious and spiritual education in schools and to introduce early intervention methods so as to break any cycle of drugs in our school children.

The march in full swing

Mrs Rene recognised, though, that the war is not an easy one to win and it is only through our united efforts as a nation that victory will be possible.

Both Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Rene congratulated the large group of people from all walks of society who turned up for the march.
Several ministers, MNAs, principal secretaries and other high government officials were present, and government and private sector bodies had also sent members of their staff.

Care clubs from all over the country were represented in the large crowd that had gathered to express their anger and frustration at the alarming drug problem.

At the start of the gathering, the leader of government business and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Marie-Louise Potter and Wavel Ramkalawan, both expressed their support for any process and measures undertaken nationally to fight the scourge.

“We will always unite to fight anything that threatens us as a nation,” said Mr Ramkalawan.
Mrs Potter said: “If we have come together in spite of all our political differences, it is because we have had enough of the drug problem affecting our country.

“We want to show our solidarity and support to all those who are affected by the problem and to bring home the message that the scourge is affecting us all, including our country which is being brought to its knees. We need to come together to fight it strong and good.”

Also before the march started, an interfaith committee against substance abuse was presented to the crowd. It was announced that soon its programme will be made known to the public.

Popular singer Michelle Marengo was also there with a strong message to the young people through her song Gard Ou Lizye Ouver (Keep Your Eyes Open) against all the bad things, including substance abuse.

The march then left Freedom Square and made its way around Victoria via Manglier Road.

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