Pride Bermuda officially launched its 18th Red Ribbon Week from the steps of City Hall.

Spectators donned the drug awareness organisation’s signature red for the event, with many bearing the slogan “Make the Right Choice”.

Programme facilitator Lisa Brewster said the red ribbon campaign is “a means to educate the public about drugs and the prevalence of drugs within the community” and to promote the organisation’s drug prevention programmes.

The organisation have a presence in primary and secondary schools across the Island in both the public and private sectors, and recently held a song competition. Participants from the qualifying schools were invited to perform their submissions.

Governor George Fergusson, Bishop Nicholas Dill and Michael Dunkley, the Premier, each gave a formal address and the children of West Pembroke Primary School led the crowd in “energisers”, performing a spirited version of ‘Pump it Up’. The students encouraged audience participation with the line “pump that drug free spirit up”. They too wore red — their custom Pride T-shirts covering their school uniforms.

The Governor excused his gentle co-operation, not wanting to embarrass anyone with his “daddy dancing”. He said: “This is an important annual event.

“The debate around drugs is almost constant. I’m not going to speak or take sides in the issues around the debate of decriminalisation. This isn’t the occasion for it. But what does worry me a bit about that debate is it all goes very technical. It all goes very legal. It ignores some of the underlying things, which are much less challenged or challengeable.

“A couple of months ago, I had a visit from the regional representative of the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO] part of the World Health Organisation [WHO] who was coming to Bermuda for the first time since she was appointed. She was very, very clear about the dangers even of the drugs that are subject to the debate.

“Whether its legal or criminal or decriminalised or in some grey area in between, it is very clear medically that cannabis, marijuana, whatever it gets called in the particular context, is a danger particularly to people under 21, above all to people who are pregnant and to their children. It causes long term damage and the message from the PAHO and the WHO is that not enough awareness of the damage that’s done is out there in the public, so I add my small part towards encouraging children, parents and the community not to get into the easy use of cannabis and marijuana, let alone the more horrendous drugs that sometimes lurk behind.

“I commend the work that Pride Bermuda does throughout the year in bringing these messages out and to supporting people in avoiding getting caught up in the drug lifestyle. If I can appeal to the students here, please listen.”

Mr Dunkley said he remembers the challenges of growing up and making the right decisions, speaking not only of peer pressure but pressure from parents and teachers. He reminded the young people present that “no question is too simple or silly”.

On reminding parents that they have the opportunity to mould the future by how they raise their children, the Premier said: “Our children are our future.”

Jamahl Simmons spoke on behalf of the PLP, commending the group for its work in “instilling confidence and self esteem in so many young people”.

The Sandys South MP said: “Each of us is especially unique, but the first choice we must make is to recognise what’s unique and special about us. When we love ourselves, we make better choices and are less likely to hurt those around us. We can use our special gifts to bring joy instead of pain.”