BVI’s laws should not be blocked after being passed — Hodge-Smith
Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Luce Hodge-Smith, said she believes the BVI’s laws should receive assent from the Governor once they are passed in the House of Assembly (HOA).
The Junior Minister was at the time speaking on the Talking Points radio programme, where she made reference to the Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020.
That law was passed in the HOA since 2020 but has been languishing at the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) ever since. It remains without assent after being handed off by a previous Governor.
“If you are the elected officials of this country – democratically elected – and you pass a law, then it should go through,” said Hodge-Smith. “It should be placed into effect. But then the Governor has quite a bit of powers and he could stop it.”
Hodge-Smith said she agreed that the BVI’s relationship with the UK had deteriorated and argued that it needs to be improved.
A former Director of Culture within the Education Ministry, Hodge-Smith said she spent a short stint in the BVI’s London Office where she had an opportunity to understand some of the dynamics of the BVI-UK relationship.
She contended that most Overseas Territories want more autonomy and said the UK has the opportunity to give this to its dependent countries.
Background
The Cannabis Licensing Act was first denied assent in 2020 by former Governor, Augustus Jaspert. He suggested at the time that necessary safeguards, such as a licensing body, were not in place to properly administer the sector once the law had been passed.
The Bill was then passed to the UK’s Foreign Secretary in the FCDO, where it was expected to receive the attention of both UK and BVI officials.
Jaspert argued back then that before the legislation can be assented, the BVI must work with UK officials to establish into law a Cannabis Authority that will monitor the local industry.
At the time, Jaspert said the UK Home Office acts as the licensing authority for narcotics in BVI, including medical narcotics. The Cannabis Licensing Act would change that, meaning the BVI would take over this responsibility from the Home Office.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley suggested earlier this year that his government may have found a way of developing a medical marijuana industry locally, despite the lack of assent after three years.
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She is the new mouthpiece for the VIP?
Perhaps the point is that they might never have been passed by a fully competent house, and that we still need this protection from ourselves.
When we learn to put ego aside, and focus on acting diligently, competently, and in the best interest of the BVI, then perhaps we will achieve what we need to responsibly pursue independence.
by the Governor is the cornerstone of the UK’s colonial system. All this new HOA needs to pass in the next 4 years is all the new laws that fulfill the CoI recommendations for transparency, accountability and good governance so the Governor’s assent is assured. Otherwise the 13 member HOA is just wasting their time and our money.
Some things are better left not talking about my Dear. Time will tell.
When the bill went through the hoa remember one man had say, fat Albert. We all now know that fat Albert was also the pharmacist. No one would get licences without Albert permission. Could the governor in his right senses accent to that. Talk hour talk Luce but my Governor sees a lot further than you, knows much more than you do. Go back to the coi where Albert swear swear heaven on his mothers grave that Gus should apologise for saying high official is involve in drugs. Listen to our premier defending Albert. Then one man from the 5th don’t remember his name talking about he was acting deputy speaker. All you full of shaving cream, shave every day and you will still be full of SH-T.
So what’s going on with the Gambling law? Wasn’t that assented years ago? Where’s the big fancy casinos that were going to rake in millions and employ hundreds?
Not sure where she is going with this but I hope she figure out herself soon. I am not impressed thus far. I agree with one blogger who called her a VIP puppet
Dem give out enough dope during election. It can wait. Let us focus on what will save a nation.
Dem give out enough dope during election. It can wait. Let us focus on what will save a nation.
She wants to benifit from the greedy bill. We not hearing nothing about that madam go sit dung ..
The Junior Minister clearly needs a lesson in the Constitution. How can she put herself up for election showing such ignorance. I expect that she’s pushing for independence so that she and her cronies can get their hands on lots of money and get rid of the oversight in place to stop theft and stupidity.
She is right. We would be very ignorant to dismiss canabis legalization.
Many people are simply uneducated on the topic that can turn out to be a blessing for them medically and recreationally. They have been brainwashed to hate it and refuse to gain more knowledge. Including the UK sadly.
@Really 3 love your post if I could give you a million likes I would.