By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The National Anti-Drug Board (NAR) will conduct a nation-wide household survey in Suriname on drug use and abuse in May and June, officials here have confirmed. The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) will finance the study for US$24,000, while the Suriname government will come up with the remaining US$10,000 for technical and administrative facilities.

The survey will target 4,000 households at random, said Manodj Hindori of the NAR, the agency responsible for the survey. The study is aiming at collecting data over the awareness of members of households concerning drugs and drug use. After analysing the data, this will enable the NAR and other institutions to craft “good policies”.

“Drug abuse -and its related consequences of joblessness, lost productivity, family disintegration, crime and violence- represent a significant risk factor for societies, and weakens the potential of vulnerable young children and youth whose development is inextricably affected by the debilitating effects of poverty,” said OAS representative in Suriname Dwight Bramble, on Friday during a meeting to announce the survey.

He further noted that the illicit drug culture is destroying families, friends, communities and regions. “It is a genocidal phenomenon which is damaging the very fabric of our societies and their democratic underpinnings,” said the diplomat.

He urged citizens to fully participate in the survey, since it is not an intelligence operation and individuals won’t be reported to police. Hindori emphasised that the survey will be “very confidential”.

Bramble further disclosed to Hindori, per household one individual between 12-65 years old will be interviewed.

“The survey is strictly confidential. Even if we are interviewing an individual of 12 years old the head of that particular household won’t be allowed to be present, since we don’t want to taint the outcome of the study,” said the NAR-official.

Both the NAR-official and justice minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi noted that there are indications that drug use and drug abuse in Suriname is increasing. With the collected data the authorities would have a better understanding of this issue, which will facilitate formulation of a comprehensive anti-drug policy.

Suriname is the third country in the region to conduct a household drug survey, said CICAD Research Specialist, Pernell Clarke. Currently similar studies are being implemented in Belize and Barbados.