Former President of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari (ICAR), Aaron Alexander, says speculation is rife that the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government will introduce cannabis decriminalisation bill at Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Assembly.
“The process was started by the former United Workers Party administration and it seems the labour party will not play political football with such an issue, hence they will move the process forward at the sitting of the house,” Alexander, who is the Deputy leader of the National Green Party (NGP) stated.
“ If this happens we will say ‘Bravo well done’. We also hope there will be a formal and sincere apology to the Rastafarian community which has endured the brunt of the prohibition law for over 50 years – the incarceration, the destruction of our families and communities, the seizing of our property, the jail time, the exorbitant fees imposed upon us for possession of small quantities of cannabis, even the killing of members of our community,” he said.
Alexander also expressed the hope that mention would be made of the need to respect the constitutional and religious right of Rastafarians to use cannabis as their sacrament.
And he offered an apology to the SLP for having said during campaigning for the July 26 general elections, that a vote for the labour party would be a vote against cannabis.
“The actions being taken by the SLP will prove me wrong,” Alexander explained.
Among the bills down for consideration at Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Assembly are the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) and the Drugs (Prevention and Misuse)(Amendment).
Tuesday’s Sitting is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m.
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