2005 Speeches

2005 Ambassador's Song and Verse Contest 2005
- National Finals

January 25, 2005

Dr. Roy L. Austin
U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago
"Substance Abuse - You Use, You Lose"

Good morning, and welcome to our third Ambassador’s Song and Verse Contest in the past three years. As in previous years, the United States Embassy and the Ministry of Education are the joint sponsors of this contest. I am pleased to see so many young and enthusiastic faces, and the more mature faces too, here to support this worthwhile cause -- the fight against substance abuse. Today, you will hear this country’s students use various forms of creative expression to spread this year’s message -- “Substance Abuse – You use, you lose.”

Some of you have only a distant acquaintance with substance abuse. You have heard of it from teachers, friends, on radio and on television. Others have been closer to substance abuse and abusers, observing the effects of alcohol abuse, the inhalation of harmful chemicals, or enslavement by hard drugs. The victims are your relatives, friends, and neighbors.

This year’s theme, “Substance Abuse – You use, you lose”, was chosen to dramatize the message that through chemical abuse you can lose friends, family, health, career, educational opportunities, money, reputation, and even your dignity and self-respect.

I encourage you to take my message to heart, and also spread it to others around you. Substance abuse leads to a destructive spiral, from missing classes to stealing to violent crime, as well as to transmission of HIV/AIDS. That is, substance abuse can worsen two of the most serious problems facing Caribbean countries, crime and HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, you can lose everything for which you care, including your life.

Trinidad and Tobago is a wonderful and vibrant country and your participation as contestants and as audience members is helping to shape the bright future that will increase the happiness of its citizens. Use this contest to send the message to everyone that positive forms of cultural expression, such as songs and verse, can combat substance abuse, crime and HIV/AIDS. More generally, appropriate cultural statements can help people live happier and more productive lives.

Before I conclude, I must recognize Senator the Honorable Hazel Manning, Minister of Education, the Ministry’s staff, administrators, and teachers for planning, executing and in every imaginable way supporting this event. I also thank the Heroes Foundation and NADAPP for promoting and otherwise supporting this contest. Parents and other community members, emcees, judges, guest artists and motivational speakers have already made invaluable contributions and will graciously assist again today. They have all given voluntarily of their valuable time and talent. I recognize, too, the special efforts of the Police Service, various service providers, and my embassy colleagues.

To the contestants, may every last one of you benefit from your participation. To everybody, please enjoy the event, while keeping in mind the seriousness of substance abuse; and thank you again for being here today!