Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Trinidad school gets US government assistance

Saturday, October 7, 2006

by: Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The United States government, through its Port of Spain, Trinidad, Embassy, has donated computer equipment to the Trinidad Belmont Boys' Roman Catholic School in Port of Spain.

US Ambassador Dr Roy Austin on Friday handed over 10 computers to the institution. The handing-over ceremony was witnessed by Trinidad and Tobago's Education Minister, Hazel Manning.

The Belmont Boys' Roman Catholic School is considered to be located in a high-risk area within the northeastern part of the capital.

It is hoped that the new equipment will be used to teach children new skills that will steer them away from involvement in crime and drugs.

Parents, guardians and community members will also learn new skills as part of an outreach program being developed as a positive alternative for their community.

The computer donation is part of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Demand Reduction Program.

This strategy seeks to reduce drug abuse directly through prevention and treatment. The need for demand reduction is obvious since escalating drug use and abuse continue to take a devastating toll on the health, welfare, security, and economic stability of all nations.

According to a US embassy statement, foreign countries are increasingly requesting technical and other assistance from the United States Government to address their demand problems, citing long-term US experience and efforts in this area.

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