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High time indeed to review marijuana policies
KINGSTON, Jamaica – On September 17, the Bureau of the Heads of Government of the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) discussed the decriminalisation of marijuana and its production for medicinal purposes. The discussion was prompted by the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves who, prior to the meeting, is reported to have said “it is high…
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Policing marijuana—the UK experience
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Countries all over the world take different approaches to the policing of marijuana possession and consumption. In many places it is widely assumed that the drug is legal, whereas in fact it is technically illegal, but tolerated in specific circumstances, such as a decision not to prosecute those who possess small amounts for personal use.…
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Marijuana a gateway drug? Jury still out
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Sometimes I feel like I have spent my life in court with teenage boys charged for possession of marijuana. I’m sure that’s part of the reason why I support Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s idea of decriminalising marijuana. I can personally testify that being charged for possession of marijuana means a case that will go on…
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Legalising marijuana would be wrong
KINGSTON, Jamaica – An edited portion of Government MP Dr Dayton Campbell's contribution to the debate in Parliament on the motion to legalise marijuana. A third of Jamaicans have used ganja in any form and 30 per cent of Jamaicans have smoked marijuana with males reporting this three times more frequently than females. Fewer than a half of reported users…
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A campaign worth waging
Kingston, Jamaica – The charismatic and visionary St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is working hard to put the issue of reparations for slavery on the map. Last week's first ever Regional Reparation Conference is an important initial step. Nobody pretends that the campaign to obtain reparations for the Caribbean will be easy. Europe is in the middle of a…
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No respect for charity-seeking countries
KIGNSTON, Jamaica – THE bureau of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at its recent meeting, decried disparaging comments by foreign financial and economic commentators. Why is CARICOM not getting respect for its economic policy? Nobody is obliged to assist anyone else, but the willingness to help is usually stimulated by sympathy with someone who cannot help himself because of circumstances beyond…
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EU use of per capita income in determining eligibility for aid is misguided-LaRocque
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – SECRETARY General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) Mr. Irwin LaRocque feels that new European Union (EU) external aid policies of using per capita income to determine ACP countries eligibility for development assistance is misguided. Even as he expressed CARIFORUM”s deep appreciation for the support of the…
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New ‘action’ mood in CARICOM?
KINGSTON, Jamaica – EVEN as Heads of Government of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appear to be moving away from a “pause mode” imposed three years ago in favour of a proactive approach on social and economic developments, they would, hopefully, avoid wasting scarce human resources and time in pursuit of new initiatives. My unsolicited suggestion is being humbly offered in…
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