Dear Editor,
As a youth of the Alliance For Change, I would like to take this opportunity to give my unequivocal support to the private member’s bill brought to the National Assembly entitled ‘An Act to amend the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Control Act 1988’ (Bill No 17, 2015). First let me thank Mr Michael Carrington MP for presenting this bill to the National Assembly. I support the bill because of the outdated penalties imposed by the principal act, and because I believe it will have a positive impact on the future of young people and will provide social support to ameliorate the issue of drug addiction among the youths.
The principal act in Section 4 (1) a (i-ii) states: “On summary conviction, a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars, together with imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than five years; or
“On conviction on indictment, to a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is the greater, together with imprisonment for not less than five years nor more than ten years.”
The moral question one can ask in today’s society is, is it fair to incarcerate a youth for any length of time for the possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana? This law seems draconian to me. I am not in favour of the decriminalization of marijuana possession of less than 100 grams; however, youths should not be jailed for small amounts, as their contribution to the development of this county is important.
It is President Granger who said: “Youths do not belong in prisons… they belong in schools, universities and the world of work.”
I, like many others, am in total agreement with the President’s statement, and I believe that supporting this bill will be a sound investment in the future of our young people. Youths, especially the poor ones, are frequently caught smoking marijuana and are subsequently incarcerated for a long period of time. This bill will ensure that youths and others in society are not incarcerated for possession of small quantities of marijuana.
The bill will ensure that young people and others in society receive social assistance in the form of counselling, drug rehabilitation and community service. The passage of this bill will see greater cooperation between the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection in the fight against drug addiction among youths and others. It will also encourage greater social responsibility on the part of youths and their families so they play a greater role in ensuring the reduced use of marijuana. It would be reasonable for those found with small amounts of marijuana in their possession to be sentenced to community service, and mandatory psychological counselling and drug rehabilitation, but not to incarceration.
We have to create an environment that is conducive to the social, economic and political development of our youths.
Yours faithfully,
Collin Haynes
