Alcohol is insidious

Dear Editor
The Government has launched its Feminition Women’s Expo weekend. The press releases from the launch indicate that Banks DIH, DDL and Ansa McAl who all sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic products are going to be sponsors and be actively involved in displaying their products.
The event is not being advertised as alcohol-free. There are faith-based organisations and NGOs in Guyana who are now planning alcohol-free events, which are successful.  The Women’s Expo is expected to provide services for women while celebrating women. The lives of many women and men in many communities across Guyana have been destroyed by alcohol consumption.
The Government in the National Domestic Violence Policy has indicated that “the government will join with civil society to initiate community-based education programmes which prevent alcohol and other substance abuse addictions, in view of the undisputed link between alcohol consumption/substance abuse addictions and domestic violence.”
It is easier to find a legal or illegal vendor of alcohol than it is to find any rehabilitation programme or education programme to reverse the damage caused by alcohol use in our country. The alcohol control laws are flouted without any fear of reprisal from any of the Government agencies responsible for the enforcement of the laws.
The Ministry of Human Services, itself, has to grapple with the problems caused by alcohol consumption. It is a shame that the Minister did not seek the opportunity to make this event alcohol free and honour the existing civil society organisations who are also working to reverse the trends of alcohol consumption.
Instead, the alcohol industry appears to be honoured. If the event is going to be alcohol free, then it should be proudly advertised as such.
Vidyaratha Kissoon