Friday, June 9, 2006

The DARE Cayman Brac Graduation Ceremony 2006
saw thirty Year 6 students from the two primary
schools on the Island receive gifts and certificates
for finishing the RCIPS sponsored programme. Here,
posing with CPO Rob Stewart (left) and CPO Jon
Siddall (right) are award winners (left to right) Hayley
Grizzel, Joshua Dilbert, Edward Baker, Anteney
McLaughlin, Kevin Parchman, and Roshini Seeram.

The DARE (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) graduation ceremony on Cayman Brac was held at the Brac Reef Beach Resort on Thursday, 1 June, for Year 6 students from West End Primary School (WEPS) and Spot Bay Junior School (SBJS).

The thirty children who received certificates and prizes for completing the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) sponsored programme were the fourth set of students to participate since DARE was first introduced to Cayman Brac in 2003.

The ten week anti-drugs and violence presentation was conducted by DARE qualified, Seven Mile Beach Community Police Officer, Jon Siddall, who flew to the Brac once a week, courtesy of Cayman Airways, to carry out the programme, assisted by Brac CPO Rob Stewart.

According to CPO Siddall, the course went really well and the kids took an active part, especially in the peer-pressure role playing part of the programme. Though the course has many serious messages, it is also fun, he said.

"Overall there was great work from the kids, both written and in the presentations, and I'm extremely proud of them," added CPO Siddall.

Part of the philosophy of the DARE programme is that it "humanizes" the police: that is, young people can begin to relate to officers as people, and permits students to see officers in a helping role, not just an enforcement role.

Police maintain that DARE opens lines of communication between law enforcement and youth, and encourages dialogue between the school, police, and parents to deal with other issues.

"Community police work is all about building relationships. A modern day police department should have a large preventative component," said CPO Siddall.

Sister Islands Education Officer Mexi Ann Grant said, "This is a very good programme because daily we can see drugs seeping into our Island and we can see the effects of drugs on older teenagers."

"You can go along the streets and see people who have left school, and see what is happening. It's good to start early and teach kids how to resist drugs and resist peer pressure," she told Cayman Net News.

"The principals and kids look forward to the DARE programme and it acts as an incentive for students to do well. They can't wait to get to Year 6 to participate," she claimed.

DARE essay winners from the two schools were: Roshini Seeram (WEPS) and Edward Baker (SBJS). Runner-ups were Hayley Grizzel (WEPS) and Joshua Dilbert (SBJS).

Special Recognition awards were given to Kevin Parchman (WEPS) and Anteney McLaughlin (SBJS).

In his essay, Edward wrote: "DARE is important because it helps young people from taking drugs and keeps their body healthy.

"It has prepared me for the challenges that lay ahead of me in my life, such as peer pressure and personal pressure - as sometimes we can be our own worse enemy!

"The ways to avoid drugs are to: take the DARE course and learn from it; be confident enough to say no or ignore people who use drugs; say no, no matter what anyone even your 'friends' say you should do."

Roshini wrote: "Now I know not to take drugs or drink alcohol because of what they do to the body and brain. You also have to take responsibility for what you do, for example, hanging out with the right people.

"Obey your parents, teachers, big brother and sister because you will not get into trouble as much as people who do drugs. You have to make decisions for yourself. Try not to be tempted to do drugs and harm anyone.

"In every case, say no to drugs. Think first; do not just say what everyone else says unless everyone says no."

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