Dear Editor,
The big message in the PPP’s “Drugs Bill” is that “you not going to jail for up to 30 grammes of marijuana.” At least the Rasta folks had the courage of their convictions to show up and beat their drums outside of Parliament in support of the “Drugs are OK Bill.” There was a very good reason Mr. Granger’s PNC did not push this bill. Perhaps, Mr. Granger understands the long-term effects a bill like this can have on his constituencies. I don’t consider it a failure that the PNC did not push this bill. I consider it to be great wisdom to stall it. The PPP’s boast that the PNC did not pass this bill, and that the PPP passed it is an empty achievement. Now the PNC, which skulked from Parliament can say, “Is the PPP decriminalising drugs. We did not vote for that!” In things that matter most such as a revamped compensation and income support system for all workers and pensioners, they lag behind.
It is reported that the AG said, “We never promised decriminalisation, we promised removing custodial sentences for up to 30 grammes and that is what we are delivering today.” Since Guyana likes to be a copycat of wrong things in the west, this is a first step towards eventual decriminalization and widespread recreational use of drugs as happens in some western countries. This is not simply a removal of fines and custodial sentences. Since Guyana does not have trained, professional substance abuse counselors in every region, the notion that counseling alone will dissuade people from using drugs is so laughable as a national strategy. Did the AG say in his speech, how many substance abuse counselors we have in each region, what treatment facilities we have, or what bureaucratic structures we would have to set up in each region to administer this counseling and community service program?
We seem to be ill-prepared for this, the way we are ill-prepared to manage oil. If we remove fines and custodial sentences, what do we do for repeat offenders? Will schools now be spending much time policing for 1-30 grammes of drugs rather than focusing on education. Does the Government know that “counseling” is not a punishment or a sentence, it is a “treatment?” We are moving backwards, destroying our culture, with this new drugs bill.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall