PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Saturday June 25th, The Turning Point Foundation took to the streets on Philipsburg on its annual Drug Prevention Campaign. For the past 25 years, Turning Point has been in the forefront in the fight against substance abuse on St. Maarten and neighboring islands. Turning Point together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), invites the general public take a serious stand and make a commitment against a problem that has adversely affected our communities For the fifth year in a row Turning Point and the Turning Point Xtreme Prevention Team has joined the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Leading the local campaign in St. Maarten and the region to create awareness concerning the challenges that drugs presents to our communities – especially our youth. We challenge other neighboring islands to join with their own statements and activities each year to remind the communities that drugs leave lifelong damage not just to the individual, not just to the families involved but also to the communities. Please remember, as we have always maintained, that alcohol is also a drug and must be kept before our communities as such.
This year Turning Point was joined by several Organizations including the New Generation Drum Band, the I-dad Foundation, and the Philipsburg Pioneer Pathfinder club. The parade began at the Government parking lot, next to TELEM and made its way through Walter Nisbeth Rd., Up to the Emmaplain, down Back Street, up Front Street and back to the starting point. Participating groups marched the streets with signs and banners, all sending messages against drug use and other anti-social behavior.
The groups joined together with the UNODC in sending the 2015 message, urging the communities and its leaders to “Develop our lives, our identities and communities without drugs”. Turning Point continued its Drug Awareness week with various radio programs including a special “U-Turn” radio program on SOS 95.9FM on Wednesday at 5.00Pm.
