The Tribune

THE WINNERS of the first "Youth Express" essay, rap and poetry contest, co-sponsored by the United States Embassy in partnership with the Bahamas National Drug Council, are participating in a National Peer Leadership Camp June 23-30 at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base at Coral Harbour. The 31 winners, ages 12-14, who represent New Providence, Grand Bahama, San Salvador, Exuma, Eleuthera and Andros, are participating in a week-long programme designed to encourage the future leaders to stand up to negative peer pressure and become agents of positive change within their schools and communities. The winners were selected based on their submission of essays, poems and rap songs that focused on the harmful impact of illegal drugs as part of the "Youth Express" competition last spring. They will participate in sessions on peer leadership, meetings with high level Bahamian officials and get a rare opportunity to participate in an Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) helicopter demonstration at the RBDF base on Wednesday, June 27. The demonstration will highlight the co-ordinated efforts of OPBAT to combat drug trafficking into and through the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.