Dear Editor,
The PPP/C has been in office for more than 23 years but it has never done anything about the chronic and widespread alcohol problem which has ripped lives apart in this country. Alcohol related problems surface every day. They range from motor vehicular accidents, to digestive problems, to an array of mental health-related issues, including depression, suicide, antisocial personality disorder and domestic violence to say the least. However, the callous PPP/C turns a blind eye to this problem. This is heartbreaking. And the PPP/C cannot be on the side of humanity when it ignores such a devastating problem and turns its attention to marijuana for political gains. The actions of the PPP/C cannot be logically explained.
In comparison to alcohol, marijuana is not a chronic and widespread problem in this country. Also, compared to alcohol, very little is scientifically known about the psychoactive, pharmacological and behavioural effects of marijuana. Even with very little scientific knowledge and understanding, the PPP/C rushes like lunatics to amend Guyana’s law to remove custodial sentencing for small quantities of cannabis. Why not handle the alcohol issue too? The PPP/C even has a vague understanding about what it means by a small quantity of marijuana. This needs to be specific. The PPP/C also fails to provide any scientific rationale for the neurobiological effects of marijuana and the drop in incarceration rate.
Moreover, the PPP/C has no data to convince anyone that it is moving in the right direction with marijuana. This is a classic example illustrating how the PPP/C ineffectively runs this country. We all know that the PPP/C lacks critical skills to run Guyana. And last but not least, I am convinced that Mr. Jagdeo, the guy with the knack for the ocean front living is the leader of this unconvincing approach for political gains because life is good in government.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Annie Baliram
