NCPADD World No Tobacco Day - March and Rally On!

13th June 2024

NCPADD World No Tobacco Day - March and Rally On!

By NCPADD

On Friday May 31, the community of Babonneau came alive with excitement as students from all seven primary and secondary schools, along with a contingent from the St. Lucia Cadet Corps, raised their voices and placards against tobacco use and smoking. The students marched through Cabishe to the Babonneau Primary School grounds, waving their creative placards as they chanted on the streets-- 123.... Look at me; 123...I am drug free!!!

David Henry, Vice President, Advocacy, Research and Development addressed the rally:

“Thank you all for being here today at this important rally in Babonneau. It is heartening to see so many students from Babonneau schools standing together for a crucial cause—protecting our children from the harmful effects of tobacco and smoking.

We unite under the theme -- Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference. This theme resonates deeply with our mission to safeguard the health and future of the younger generation.

Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of illness and death worldwide. The tobacco industry continuously targets children and adolescents with marketing strategies designed to create a new generation of smokers. This is unacceptable. Our children deserve to grow up in an environment free from the influence of harmful substances.

By rallying today, we send a strong message: we will not allow the tobacco industry to interfere with our children's lives. We demand stricter regulations, better education, and more robust protections to ensure that our youth can thrive in a healthy, smoke-free environment.

Together, we can make a difference. Let us continue to advocate for policies that protect our children, educate our communities about the dangers of tobacco, and support each other in the fight against tobacco industry interference.

Thank you for your commitment and your voice in this vital cause. Together, we can create a healthier, brighter future for all our children.”

Parliamentary Representative, Honorable Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, in her special address to the students, emphasized the importance of them making healthy choices and living a healthy life, the option she highlighted as detrimental. “We do not want you to smoke. Do not smoke tobacco, do not smoke marijuana, do not smoke paper. You must not have smoke in your lungs. Do not practice it, do not try it.” Dr. Albert-Poyotte stated an emphatic No to smoking.

In her warm interaction with the students, Dr. Albert-Poyotte read out their meaningful messages on their placards, expressing her appreciation for the efforts they put into making the placards themselves.

National Committee for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCPADD) St Lucia is immensely grateful to all our partners who made this event a reality.