Dear Editor,
As part of its anti-suicide campaign, the Caribbean Voice, through its social activism programme ‘Arise’, has identified billboards as vehicles to get the message out there. Guyana has 65 local government districts and we strongly believe that a minimum of one billboard per district would be a very significant anti-suicide strategy.
Now everyone knows that government probably does not have the money for billboards. But every local government district has a number of small businesses and professionals. Thus, if these individuals can come together and donate a few dollars, the cost of the billboards would be easily covered. Every district also has carpenters and painters and these individuals can be approached to donate their services to construct and paint the billboards.
In fact, perhaps even the lumber may be obtained as donations from sawmills and lumber dealers or at concessions that would significantly reduce costs for the billboards. Finally, every community most likely has artists who can be approached to place the messages on the billboard. In this respect, The Caribbean Voice suggests maximal use of billboards with anti-suicide messages on one side and anti-abuse (domestic, sexual and alcohol) messages on the other. In effect, each billboard can be a community effort and perhaps the community can come out when the billboard is erected and the occasion can be used to inform and educate the citizens on approaches to dealing with these issues.
The Caribbean Voice appeals to the various business and professional alliances – chambers of commerce and industry, manufacturing associations, lawyers’ and doctors’ associations and so on to spearhead efforts to create and erect billboards. We believe that in many cases a single business, family or professional may be able to cover the cost of a billboard. And the messages can be crafted by NGOs and individuals operating in suicide and abuse prevention – Help and Shelter, Red Thread, The Guyana Foundation, social workers, psychologists. The Caribbean Voice is also willing to craft and provide messages, if necessary, but this is rather unlikely.
Finally, in the event that certain districts cannot cover the costs of billboards, banners – more than one – can be cheaper alternatives.
Sincerely,
Norkah Carter
Devv-Ramdas Daniel
Judy Deveaux
Annan Boodram
Bibi Ahamad
Collis Nicholson
Anna Addie Odyssey
Donna Jennifer Ross
