St. Vincent and the Grenadines hosts first formal Regional Conversation on Marijuana in CARICOM

The first formal regional conversation around Marijuana in CARICOM got started here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday June 15.

Earlier in the day, Members of the Regional Commission on Marijuana engaged in a series of Focus Group Discussions with a wide cross section of stakeholders including the youth, faith based organizations, non- governmental organizations and special interest groups.

A Town Hall meeting was held later in the day at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown.

Addressing the meeting, Assistant Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat in the Directorate of Human and Social Development, Vincentian Dr. Douglas Slater noted that while the region has faced a number of challenges in the past on issues related to the legalization of marijuana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines can be proud that it started the process.

Dr. Slater said there have been a number of developments on the international scene in relation to the legalization of Marijuana and CARICOM will continue to work along with the people of the region on these matters which have regional impact.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, Saboto Caesar explained that the government supports the move by CARICOM to include the voice of the Region’s people in the discussions on the way forward regarding the legalization of marijuana.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines national consultations are being undertaken by the Regional Marijuana Commission which is headed by Prof. Rose-Marie-Bell Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. Members of the Commission will meet with a cross-section of stakeholders including youth, faith based-organisations and non-governmental organisations and special interests groups.

Listen to the consultations held at the Methodist Church Hall, St. Vincent and the Grenadines: