Dear Editor,
It has been reported that both major parties have separate bills for making the possession of marijuana under a certain weight not eligible for a custodial or jail sentence. I don’t know why this is such a big, urgent priority of both parties. Both parties have enabled the ripping off of Guyana by signing bad oil deals. Why are they not bringing new bills to reverse this situation to stop the fleecing of Guyana? Is this not of the most urgent national importance?
Crime is out of control as was the case under the last administration. Why do we not have new bills to deal with this? (How about some new bills to jail ministers stealing “gifts” from public funds, and approving shoddy public works and services?). The new Government seems clueless and has no crime plan. (How many people were charged for pulling persons out of vehicles and brutalizing them in the West Berbice terrorism?). To make matters worse, the Judiciary seems to be sending the wrong message to murderers that life is cheap. Look at the recent low
sentences given for brutal murders and the many reduction of sentences.
Our PPP was a shadow government for five years. They cannot claim we are new, give us time. Look at how Mr. Biden, a shadow government for four years came in and on Day 1, signed several executive orders to reverse old, bad policy and initiate new policy. In my view, the urgency with which they are treating this marijuana tolerance issue is a very backward, reckless move when there are so many other urgent issues. This will come back to bite us in places we don’t want to be bitten. Everyone agrees there is an escalation of petty crimes, home invasions, domestic violence, violent crimes and gruesome murders committed by the youths in the villages, ghettoes, and urban areas.
Everyone would also tell you the increase in the use of drugs is fueling crimes to sustain the habit. Youths are hanging out at street corners using drugs and creating mischief instead of going to work. Some of our young people are “running off,” becoming street bums, they are unreliable and unstable workers, and posing a danger to their communities. Everyone is complaining about this problem. We see how there are prison sweeps one day and drugs and contraband are found, and when you sweep again days later, you find more stuff. This is an ongoing ritual.
While the current law criminalises the possession of 15 grams, the opposition’s proposal in the bill, seeks to legalise the possession of up to 500 grams of marijuana. That is an increase in possession of 33 times more. The opposition also wants the removal of the mandatory imprisonment of persons who are found with less than 500 grams, something that the new government doesn’t seem to agree with. If you make the possession of 500 grams not subject to jail time, is that likely to lead to more or less people possessing a larger quantity of drugs? Would that also facilitate more or less drug use? What message are we sending?
Under the government’s proposed legislation, marijuana possession will continue to constitute a criminal offence, but it will not allow for mandatory jail sentences as a penalty. I agree with the point that possession should still be an offence. I also advocate that we keep the option of imposing a custodial sentence when warranted. What would we do for repeat offenders? Would fines triple instead of jail? We not have drug treatment and rehabilitation services in all regions. We do not have many psychiatrists, psychologists, drug rehabilitation specialists, or drug counseling services.
If the major reason we want to remove custodial sentences is to avoid clogging up the prisons system where there is a lack of space and Government has been lagging, keep the custodial option in place, and implement when prison facilities are expanded. Use the sentencing guidelines to not make it a mandatory custodial sentence, as some members of the judiciary have offered alternative sentencing to persons found with small amounts of marijuana. The USA has sent a bad signal to the world in its current efforts at making recreational use of drugs okay, and tolerating the use of marijuana under the guise of “medical marijuana.”
Notwithstanding his other failings, we must give credit to Mr. Granger who said we must be careful what we copy from other countries, and for him not moving forward his Government’s bill to remove custodial sentences for possession of drugs. The message a Government sends is important. The sad thing is, again, the churches and good men are silent. When many individuals and families have been destroyed because of drug use, the solution is not sending a message that possession of drugs is not as bad as we think, or that possession and use is okay.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall