As part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative’s (CBSI) Drug Demand Reduction Program, Ambassador Nicole A. Avant gave a $100,000 grant to The Bahamas National Drug Council, on September, 26. Ambassador Avant also held a meeting with Ms. Camille Johnson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, in order to discuss the aims of the grant and future partnership between the US and Bahamas, to mitigate the crime rate and to strengthen the local communities.
USG has a commitment to The Bahamas through CBSI, and in 2011 it has reached a total of $1.6 million. The $100,000 grant to The Bahamas National Drug Council is also a part of this commitment that focuses on law narcotics interdiction, reducing drug demand and professionalizing law enforcement, across the entire Caribbean.
The present grant will be used by The Bahamas National Drug Council to investigate the cases pertaining to illegal use of drugs, establish links with basic organizations, and educate the public regarding illegal use of drugs through messages.
The Bahamas National Drug Council was praised by Ambassador Avant, for its tireless effort in educating the youth about the harm caused by illegal use of drugs; this effort has helped reduce drug-demand in the Bahamas. Ambassador Avant also laid stress on President Obama’s commitment to increase security coordination in the Caribbean. The recent announcement of $77 million in new CBSI funding, which will be used for various activities in the forthcoming year, is an example of this commitment.
