This point came over forcefully at a high-level gathering at the Foreign Service Institute in Georgetown Thursday afternoon for the launching and presentation of the International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB) annual report for last year.

According to Dr. Michael Platzer, Representative of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) who presented the INCB report, "This is a very important occasion (where) we select one country in the Caribbean to launch our report."

Guyana got the honour this year of launching the some 100-page report which contains a comprehensive outlook and revelations about the international narcotics trade, its impact on societies and economies and the efforts in train to combat this international scourge.

The authorities are clearly aware of the dangers and the implications of the nefarious drugs trade and its equally dangerous relatives, but it is time that the public at large be brought up close to the realities.

Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj pointed to the "new group of people" in Guyana with no visible or lawful source of income but who have a lavish and affluent lifestyle and whose presence in society contributes to false values in young people.

The danger this group poses is that "their presence in society has contributed to the conjuring up of false values by our young people that there is a virtue by not working but in acquiring wealth rapidly," Mr. Gajraj said.

He indicated that this group of seemingly `not-working-millionaires' is linked, in some way or the other, to the trade in cocaine, marijuana, heroin and other illicit drugs and the authorities are going after them.

It's not going to be easy because of the influence and the vast networking of the drugs cartels, but the authorities will have to intensify the fight, linking with regional and international agencies and countries trying to destroy the monster that threatens particularly young people.

"But we're not just talking about drugs, we are talking about the scourge of money laundering, the profits of drugs smugglers that infiltrate normal, commercial and banking channels," British High Commissioner, Mr. Edward Glover.

His warning at the forum last week was timely:

"All of us need to be vigilant and to ensure that adequate measures are in place to counteract this new enemy".

We share his concern about the importance of young people and their role in society: "They are a precious asset, we need them and we must continue to warn them that all drugs are dangerous - especially heroin and cocaine."

The barons and their allies have to be hit where it hurts hard and the money laundering legislation, under which property can be traced, seized and even confiscated, can put a big dent in the enterprise.