Published 3 May 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Statement by PM Harris to the National Assembly on the work of the Marijuana Commission, Thursday, May 03, 2018
Statement made by Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, to the National Assembly on the matter of the Marijuana Commission on Thursday, May 03, 2018
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise with your leave to commend the work of the Marijuana Commission and the serious,independent and deliberate scientific way it is going about its work. I must place on record the government’s deep appreciation to our citizens and residents who have accepted to serve on the Commission and equally important those who are attending the public hearing and letting their views known. For the record, the members of the Commission are:
1. Dr. Hazel Laws – Chief Medical Officer (Chair)
2. Mr. Andre Mitchell – Assistant Commissioner of Police (Law Enforcement)
3. Mr. Charles Wilkin Q.C. – Former President, St.Kitts and Nevis Bar Association
4. Dr. Garfield Alexander – President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association
5. Mrs. Michele de la Coudray-Blake – Director, Counselling Unit
6. Dr. Julie Graves – Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Ethics and Behavioural Science – UMHS, St. Kitts
7. Reverend P. Allister Rawlins – The Anglican Parish of St. George and St. Barnabas, St. Kitts (Clergy from Nevis)
8. Samande ‘Ras Iya’ Reid – Representative of Rastafarian Religion
9. Ms. Kenisha Flemming – Representative of St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association (SKNYPA)
10. Mrs. Joan Browne – Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Finance, NIA
11. Ms. Karimu Byron – Director, National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention
12. Mr. Curtis Francis – Counsellor, Ministry of Education
The St. Kitts and Nevis (National) Marijuana Commission was convened by Cabinet fiat and was mandated to: (1) Explore all the implications of the use of marijuana; (2) Engage all the people of the Federation through consultative meetings and ascertain their position on the complex issues; and ultimately (3) Develop a final report to inform relevant policy decisions regarding marijuana or Cannabis sativa.
The National Marijuana Commission in collaboration with the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Sustainable Development is conducting a national survey to determine the prevalence of use of marijuana in the Federation. This survey will inform us about the scale of use of marijuana and the factors associated with its use.
Data collectors or enumerators are already coming into all districts and randomly inviting a number of persons to participate in this survey. The enumerators arewearing identification badges. The enumerator will request approximately ten (10) minutes of the interviewee’s time to complete a short questionnaire, which is anonymous. In other words, your name will not be documented. No one will be able to link you with the questionnaire that you completed. Your participation in this survey is voluntary.
This is a unique opportunity to hear and to be heard. I encourage all with a view to let their views be heard,including cannabis users, non-users, the church, the private sector, the education fraternity, political parties, the Bar Association, etc. Indeed, 17 Town Hall Meetings have been planned for the Federation, and 6meetings have been held in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Mr. Speaker, I have been heeding my own advice to speak. But let me make it absolutely clear, I want to learn more about the topic like all of us. All of us want to understand not only the prevalence of marijuana use, but also the demographics and sociological causes of its use and the implications at the individual and wider societal level of marijuana use and abuse. On the other hand, I am keen to see the arguments regarding the potential economic benefits of its cultivation and trade. Is it a viable export and in what form – primary or processed? Where will the markets be and how do we get around the U.N. prohibition of it as a dangerous substance? This is a big and sensitive subject.
This is a matter of importance to us, our way of life,our international relationships, including implicationsfor our participation in visa programmes, the access to the banking system and the related issues of correspondent banking, the impact on crime and violence, among other areas.
In that context, I feel passionately that the habit of marijuana smoking ought not to be forced on children.I feel it is wrong that some of our school children are being made to trade in the illicit substance. I said there must be zero acceptance of the unlawful use of smoking of marijuana by our precious children. Many research studies have underscored the adverse effects of smoking marijuana on the young and developing brain.
I believe that adults have a duty to protect the children,and the wealth of evidence and medical research consistently show that smoking marijuana is bad for children. I want our children to grow up to experience the joys of puberty and adolescence without the negative impact of Marijuana and Cocaine or any other substances on their lives.
My personal views as a father of two and my duty as head of government are clear. I do understand that, in formulating public policy, at times one has to subordinate personal views to the broader public interest and public good. By establishing the Marijuana Commission, I have indicated clearly that the broadest public engagement was a sine qua non for distilling public interest in the matter. I still believe so Mr.Speaker.
The Commission is an independent one. The Cabinet of which I am a part will not prejudge nor pre-empt the outcome of the Commission. But the Commission was set up to hear views, not to distill silence. I am happy to excite public debate on a very serious matter. My views are my own, as the Federal Cabinet has not formulated a firm position on this matter. We await the work of the Commission, and Cabinet members are free to express their views on the matter. Indeed, when the matter comes to Cabinet, I expect that there will be a conscience vote, not only in the Cabinet but also in the Parliament.
I welcome a healthy and serious debate on the matter. I appreciate that it is not just whether we criminalize, decriminalize or legalize marijuana, that is why the Commission must be given time and space to do its work fully and properly. The Commission wants everyone to let his/her views known. The Commission will not let the views of anyone – however high or low the platform that person speaks from – to negatively influence their work.
The speaking up or writing is not what the problem is. The deafening silence or non-participation will be a greater threat to the Commission’s work than persons speaking. I will defend everyone’s right to express even a contrary view on the subject.
That is why I encourage persons to let their views be heard respectfully and calmly. In the end, my government will be guided by the views of the people.
May the Commission produce excellent work and be the model for others to follow.
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