BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, has declared that decriminalisation of marijuana is a top priority of the ruling Labour Party Administration.
He was at the time responding to a question by a caller on his weekly radio programme ‘Ask the Prime Minister’.
“Let me make it absolutely clear…this is a government that is never afraid to take very hard decisions. I have said publicly and I say again today that the matter of the decriminalisation of marijuana is very high up on the card of policy matters that are being discussed by the Labour Administration.”
Dr. Douglas added that the matter was being discussed at a regional level and highlighted the strides made by Jamaica in the decriminalisation process.
“We have been pursuing a particular course that has been outlined with my colleagues within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We have seen Jamaica having gone forward. We would have preferred Jamaica gone forward with all of us…but they have decided to go forward because they have been studying the matter for several years through various commissions that had been established.”
Dr. Douglas however indicated that it was time for discussions on the matter locally.
“As I said, I prefer it be done as a regional thing. Nevertheless we will continue at a domestic level to ensure the appropriate mechanisms are in place through giving the appropriate place for dialogue among different sectors of society. For example, the church! We must hear from the medical practitioners because there are very strong views with regard to the use of marijuana. We must hear from the police.
“I think the time has come in St. Kitts and Nevis for this dialogue at the highest level. I think the caller is right…I am sure within the next term we would be able to get this right and appropriate action would be taken by the Labour Administration.”
