Aaron Alexander didn’t light up the issue of cannabis reform straight away when he addressed Sunday’s Emancipation Day observance in Vieux Fort. Instead, as President of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari and Pan African People (ICAR), he began by recognising what he called a long-overdue milestone for the Rastafarian community: Emancipation Day’s growing importance on Saint Lucia’s national calendar.
“It has been acknowledged that the Rastafari community has been carrying this heavy load of observing Emancipation each year for over 40 years, albeit alone,” he told the audience.
Alexander said he was glad to see that the conversation about Emancipation Day had moved past being dismissed as “another Rasta ting”. He described its acceptance as a national, and increasingly regional, observance as an important step forward.
He then turned to another issue the Rastafarian community has supported for years: cannabis reform.
Alexander said the legislation needed to regulate Saint Lucia’s cannabis industry was moving too slowly.
Still, he said the Rastafarian community remains hopeful and is committed to exercising what he described as a “great level” of patience as it waits for the legislation to reach Parliament.
Earlier that same day, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire spoke about these concerns in a video from the Regulatory Substance Authority (RSA). He admitted that members of the Rastafarian community and other stakeholders had grown frustrated with the pace of the process.
“I hear your frustration… I assure you our work behind the scenes has been deliberate and unwavering,” Hilaire said. “I am confident that the RSA is prepared to implement a safe, highly regulated framework that ensures responsible use while upholding the highest standards of public safety.”
The minister said the proposed framework is intended to ensure that those who have carried the burden and risk of cannabis for generations are not left out as the industry grows.
He said the legislation aims to protect the interests of Saint Lucians while building a responsible and well-regulated cannabis industry.
“We are almost at the finish line. Together we will build a cannabis industry that serves and safeguards every Saint Lucian,” he concluded.
