By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Tuesday 5st March 2019)-Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris speaking about the accepted recommendations of the National Marijuana Commission while in Parliament last week led some individuals to think that the laws had changed in regard to decriminalising marijuana to a certain extent relative to St.Kitts-Nevis.
This widely debated topic has been on the receiving end of criticism and mixed reactions, and the Opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) is accusing the government of deliberately misleading the public.
“Parliament was called solely for creating a political platform on which members of the government could parade as they were anticipating a victory at the court that same day,” said SKNLP Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas at a press conference held on Friday 22nd February at The Galaxy on Port Zante in Basseterre.
He also stated that it was “only a few months ago that Dr. Harris blatantly attacked those who think that he would allow his government to take a different position on Marijuana but because of Wednesday when he had a devastating blow in the courts of our country, all of a sudden marijuana becomes the trump card for them.”
Attorney General Vincent ‘Juicy’ Byron Jr. in a ZIZ news report- dated 22nd February-said changes to marijuana legislation announced are in not place yet and the pre-existing laws are still in effect. He also told that the recommendations in the Commission’s report have been agreed upon but must undergo a process in order to be made into law.
According to Dr. Douglas, there is in-fighting in the present government pertaining to the marijuana issue.
“It is very, very clear that the government is fighting within itself on this matter and that is why we keep saying that we are dealing with a government of three different parties; each party has its own opinion, its own policy on critical issues that affect the people of St. Kitts and Nevis that is why we continue to say that the government is unstable. It cannot take decisions easily because there is a fighting among them.
He said further that it is clear that “the announcement by the Attorney General is clear contradiction to the position that the Prime Minister is trying to announce.”
Concerning the report submitted to Cabinet by the National Marijuana Commission, the opposition informed that its parliamentarians did not receive a copy.
“…You have a document for several weeks that you are going to appear to make pronouncements on it and not even a copy, one sheet, no summary is made available to the members of the Parliament? Well people elect us to be there too! And that is what we’re saying all along, the government has no respect for people; it only becomes embroiled in it political agenda. That is no way to run a country!” said Dr. Douglas.
SKNLP Chairperson Dr. Terrance Drew accused PM Harris of continuing “to use to strategy of political deception to gain political advantage and this was a case.”
He added: “You can also look at it as a distraction; a distraction from the fact that he got a devastating blow as was described by the comrade Leader… and so he wanted to quickly move on to something else and so I think the population is smart enough to understand and intelligent enough to comprehend that Timothy Harris is playing petty politics; that’s all it is.”
Dr. Drew -who is a medical doctor- said the SKNLP has always put forth its stance when it come to the issue of marijuana which is it has been saying for a number of years.
He pointed out that [Marcella] Liburd has often spoke about young men who are locked up for small quantity and have their record spoilt with respect to college application, VISA application, loans and jobs.
Dr. Drew emphasised that expunging such criminal records in those cases is a position he has always held.
On the topic of marijuana for medicinal purposes, he pointed out that it is “something that I have always championed because I think that properly monitored it can used positively” for people in respect to a number of ailments.
On Wednesday 20th February, the government lost its court case for parliamentary disqualification of Dr. Douglas concerning the Dominican diplomatic passport matter; a case said to cost over $3 million with plans afoot by the government to have the matter carried on further at Appeal Court level.
The SKNLP in its latest call for the resignation of Speaker Michael Perkins stems from that court day.
“The speaker knowingly broke one of the cardinal rules of Parliament when he, sitting in the very chair, delved into this diplomatic passport matter that was under the active consideration of the court of our land and in relation to which a verdict was to be delivered on that very same afternoon,” remarked. Dr. Douglas.
Deputy Leader Marcella Liburd said the Speaker “is the chairman of the public meeting for the government” abusing parliament and wasting tax payers’ money.
She labelled last week’s session a “fake parliament” with the absence of debates and public business removed from the order paper.
“…and this is about the fifth time where that has taken place where the Speaker is endorse carrying out a fake Parliament” noting that there is no opportunity for Opposition to speak thereof.