THE AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL  
                                                                                                                                     

For Immediate Release                                                                                                              May 15, 2007

 

Shaun Goater Tackles Kids Head on
About Staying off the Stop List

Mr. Shaun Goater, Bermuda’s star footballer and all-around positive role model, has added his voice in support of the Consulate’s continuing stop list campaign.  When making the announcement, Consul General Gregory Slayton said that “the Goat” is able to establish a real connection with Bermuda’s young people.  Mr. Goater described himself as 100% committed to the outreach effort to convince kids not to put themselves on the stop list and he used his own life as an example.

“I knew that playing football was what I wanted out of life and my ambition was to play ball in a bigger field than tiny Bermuda. For me, travel – often to or through the United States – was an integral part of my plan. If I had had a criminal conviction,  I would have been placed on the stop list and denied access to my dreams.” Mr. Goater concluded, “I am here today to ask you not to put yourself on the stop list. I’m asking each and every one of you to take responsibility for yourself.  Do the right thing for your own sake and stay out of trouble now.”

To get secondary school students thinking about their future, “the Goat” announced a two-part competition being sponsored by the American Consulate.  Students from public and private high schools are invited to enter a 5-10 word slogan or a piece of original artwork on the theme, “Keep Yourself Off the Stop List.” 

Winners will be announced at the American Society’s Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, June 30^th, generously sponsored by corporate Bermuda and featuring many of Bermuda’s best charities.  The winner of each competition will receive two round trip tickets to the United States on JetBlue or USA 3000.  Runners up will receive footballs autographed by Mr.  Shaun Goater. 

The deadline for receipt of entries is June 15, 2007.  Slogans may be emailed to stoplistcampaign@state.gov; faxed to 296-9233 or delivered to the Consulate on Middle Road, Devonshire between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Art should be delivered to the Consulate and should be no larger than 18” x 24.”  All entries should bear the student’s name, age and school.  More information is available on the Consulate’s website at
http://hamilton.usconsulate.gov.

These two new initiatives reinforce the Consulate’s campaign blitz that began in 2006 with presentations in middle and high schools. Consulate staff also took to the airwaves, speaking on radio talk shows, including the new monthly “Ask the Consulate” program on KJAZ.  Dunkley’s Dairy continues to provide a real public service by donating space on its milk cartons to carry the eye-catching, stay-off-the-stop-list message.

Homing in on the central message, Consul General Slayton said, “The Consulate wants young people to think ahead about the life-long consequences of illegal activity. Denial of a waiver application could have unintended results that could last a lifetime, disrupting school, vacation or medical care plans that require travel to or through the U.S.”