They battled in an academic debate over a proposal to ban the sale of alcohol yesterday but this morning Wesley College's student body was united as they marched through downtown Belize City. They marched against drugs in the school's annual Red Ribbon Parade - held annually as the highlight of drug prevention week. And in a world where it is so easy to say yes to drugs and alcohol, Keith Swift found that after 9 years - saying no has become easy for the students at Wesley.
[Students Chanting: 'We Going Down Albert Street']
The mood was almost celebratory this morning as Wesley College students once again took their message of drug prevention and awareness to the streets. The message was as it always is - a warning to stay away from drugs and it was it was repeated on banners placards, and in chants. And while the chants are one thing - drug prevention is of course serious business and most of these students agree that saying no to drugs isn't as easy as it sounds.
Kasandra Madrill, 3rd Form Student - Wesley College
"It isn't easy to just say no because there is peer pressure and that is why we are here to say we want everyone to know that drugs are not something good and we want everyone to join in with us and say no."
Ian Reneau, 1st Form Student - Wesley College
"No, not so easy because of peer pressure and you want to be in the group and so."
Keith Swift,
So then how do you manage to say no?
Ian Reneau,
"You have to know what to say, you have to know the responsibility of yourself."
Derrick Conorquie, 4th Form Student - Wesley College
"We know we are not able to change everybody but at least if we change one, we know as a school, we are we are doing our job."
Keith Swift,
As a fourth form student, is it hard to just say no?
Derrick Conorquie,
"Of course. Of course it is."
But again for most students it isn't always easy which is why Wesley College Principal Brenda Armstrong says the march is important.
Brenda Armstrong, Principal - Wesley College
"By using the chants and planting the seeds of the idea that I have the power to be drug free, we encourage our teens to say even though the whole society is sayings its okay, I will make that choice and that's what the parade is all about."
Keith Swift,
You've been doing this for nine years, has it made a difference? Do you think its making a difference in the lives of your students?
Brenda Armstrong,
"I say definitely. It makes a big difference in their lives. Its not that they will not be tempted to use but we have our policies and our policies allow for interventions. We have rescued many of our students who otherwise would have fallen by the wayside. I think it makes a big difference."
A difference which was clearly evident on the faces and in the chants of these students.
Red Ribbon Week winds down with a parent's evening tomorrow and a roast and toast on Friday.
