The President of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Trinidad & Tobago Deosaran Bisnath, right, presents Ajeet Praimsingh, with the GOPIO award for distinguished and meritorious service in culture, religion, business and social and community activism in T&T.
Photo: Tony Howell
BY RADHICA SOOKRAJ
University of the West Indies lecturer Dr Jerome Teelucksingh calls for a total ban on alcohol advertising saying alcohol abuse is destroying T&T.
Teelucksingh, the son of Presbyterian Reverend Dr Daniel Teelucksingh, was speaking at Indian Arrival Day celebrations hosted by the Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin on Saturday.
Delivering a presentation on alcoholism, Teelucksingh said that much of T&T’s road carnage is linked to alcohol consumption.
“It is a fact that the risk of crashes and road carnage increases significantly with alcohol consumption,” Teelucksingh said.
He added that while the new drunk driving laws are easier on drivers since the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act was amended seven years ago, there was still a great problem regarding the non-enforcement of laws.
“My advice to the police is don’t stop cars to remove the tint from their glasses or to check for expired drivers’ licences. Check the trunks of vehicles for alcohol,” Teelucksingh said.
He said that the T&T National Council on Alcohol found that 68 per cent of car crashes are because of alcohol use. He also called for more counsellors to be hired to treat people for alcoholism.
“In our primary and secondary schools, some children bring alcohol in soft drink bottles. Some are caught but others managed to slip through. Where are they getting it from? Home? Who has influenced them? Television and cable?
“Often during lunchtime or after school some teachers might visit bars and rum shops. What message is this sending to our nation’s students?” Teelucksingh asked.
He added: “Every school should have a counsellor to help children and teachers who might be developing alcohol problems. Tertiary institutions such as the University of T&T, the University of the West Indies and the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of T&T, must also ensure our young alcoholics receive counselling.”
Teelucksingh said the Breathalyser legislation should have been passed a long time ago.
“I don’t understand how parliamentarians could find the time to increase their salaries and ignore this crucial piece of legislation which will save hundreds of lives,” he said.
Teelucksingh also quoted a Guardian article which cited alcoholism as the main problem among policemen. He said that the Government must enforce a total ban on alcohol advertising to deal with the problem.
Also speaking at the event were UWI Professor Ronald Marshall, lecturer at the Arthur Lok Jack School of Business Hulsie Bhaggan and author Dr Raymond Ramcharitar.
Deosaran Bisnath
May 11 2008
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