NASSAU, Bahamas – On Monday, September 26, Ambassador Nicole A. Avant presented a $100,000 grant to The Bahamas National Drug Council as part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative’s (CBSI) Drug Demand Reduction Program. Ambassador Avant met with Ms. Camille Johnson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health to discuss the goals of the grant and potential U.S.-Bahamas partnerships focused on reducing crime and strengthening local communities under CBSI.
The $100,000 grant to The Bahamas National Drug Council is part of the USG’s commitment to The Bahamas through CBSI – totaling $1.6 million in 2011 – to support law narcotics interdiction, drug demand reduction and law enforcement professionalization throughout the Caribbean. The Bahamas National Drug Council will use the funding to assess the incidences of illegal drug use, create and improve linkages with grass roots organizations, and provide public service messages discouraging the use of illegal drugs.
During the meeting, Ambassador Avant applauded The Bahamas National Drug Council for its ongoing efforts to reduce demand through education programs targeting youth throughout The Bahamas. Ambassador Avant also emphasized President Obama’s continued support to fostering increased security coordination in the Caribbean illustrated through the recent announcement of $77 million in new CBSI funding that will be designated for a variety of activities throughout the region in the coming year.
