The sight of young girls smoking marijuana while wearing school uniforms circulated across the Internet over the past few days is at once disturbing. But subsequent news that the suspended young ladies were seen online smoking at home is alarming.
It shows a callous disregard for school authority, the law and even more profound disrespect for their parents and or guardians.
At a time when there are national discussions about decriminalising marijuana, this is not the time for such open displays by our young people.
Just last week a member of the Rastafarian community was charged with smoking "herb" at a rally in south Trinidad. He argued that others were doing the same thing.
The court reminded him that such practices remain illegal and was spared jail time but must conduct 80 hours of community service.
Flouting the law is not to be encouraged by anyone of any age, and these young ladies and others who think and act similarly should be given a timely reminder that it is foolhardy to go down this path.
Keeping an eye on Guyana
All eyes on Guyana as the ruling coalition Government plans to appeal the judgment of the High Court that rules the no-confidence vote as valid.
This means that general election is likely to be delayed while the Appeal Court decides.
The situation now provides two fronts very close to us that require delicate management if a calm and orderly atmosphere is to be maintained.
The most urgent is that of Venezuela that had the full attention of Caricom leaders overnight in another videoconference emergency session.
In Georgetown, the main Opposition People Progressive Party has gone ahead and picked its presidential candidates, and smaller parties are emerging in expectation of a national plebiscite.
Longtime observers of Guyana's politics are cautious about the outcome of the appeal's process and its likely impact on the future governance of that country.
We can only hope that good sense prevails and that the country's stability is not disturbed at a time when it still faces a threat to its territorial integrity by neighbouring Venezuela.