NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — The Bahamas Government says it is in the process of establishing a drug treatment court to provide an alternative to incarceration for drug-dependent offenders through treatment and rehabilitation.

National Security Minister Bernard J Nottage addressing the 60th regular session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse and Control Commission (CICAD), said The Bahamas has embarked upon on a series of initiatives focused on at-risk youth including the establishment of Community Youth Centres that will provide healthy alternative services and programmes.

He said the focus is as a result of youth being “overwhelmingly represented as both victims and perpetrators of drug-related crime and violence locally.

“Participating youth will receive training in hospitality, self-esteem building, motivational and personal development. These centres will be a space where youth can have positive interactions and hopefully be dissuaded from using illicit drugs, joining gangs or engaging in conflict with the law,” Nottage told delegates, adding that Nassau is “resolved” in its responses to the drug problem.

“The Bahamas is a willing and committed partner and confident that underpinning the discussions of this 60th regular session, the resolve is united to improve the effectiveness of our responses to the drug problem in the mutual interests of all member states.

“It is our hope that ideas and experiences shared over the next three days will bolster our efforts in addressing the world drug problem.”

CICAD was established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1986. Each member government appoints a high-ranking representative to the commission that meets twice a year.

CICAD promotes regional cooperation and coordination among OAS member states through action programmes, carried out by CICAD’s Executive Secretariat, to prevent and treat substance abuse; reduce the supply and availability of illicit drugs; strengthen national drug control institutions and machinery as well as improve money laundering control laws and practice.

Nottage said that the meeting here is significant because this year, CICAD commemorates its 30th anniversary.

“We congratulate the Organization of American States (OAS) for seeing it imperative to establish a branch with the responsibility to promote regional partnerships and coordination among member states to reduce drug production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, while addressing public health, social and criminality of the drug trade,” Nottage said.

He told delegates that the Bahamas has been on the “frontline” of drug control and reduction and has committed itself to “weakening illicit drug enterprises that exist around us regionally and globally” over the past four decades.

“Even though the Bahamas is not a major producer of illicit drugs, our country is strategically situated within the transhipment zone between markets in North America and Europe. Due to our sparsely populated archipelago and vast water borders, transnational criminals continue to traffic drugs through our maritime borders and ports of entry.”

Nottage said cocaine and marijuana – which he called the signature drugs produced in the region – are the principle drugs in the transit traffic through The Bahamas.

“Some of the drugs that are moved through our country make their way on our streets and negatively impact our communities and the most vulnerable among us, in particular our youth.”

Nottage said the programmes the government has implemented and will implement, will help to reverse those negative impacts on the country’s at-risk youth insofar as crime, criminality and violence are concerned.