UK reportedly waiting on COI outcome before deciding on drug bill
United Kingdom Secretary of State, Dominic Raab has reportedly indicated that he is awaiting the reports from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) before deciding on the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act now at his office awaiting assent.
This was purported by Speaker of the House of Assembly Jullian Willock in a public statement to the territory released April 26.
The Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act 2020 would decriminalise possession of small amounts of cannabis and erase some previous convictions. It is one of the bills that former Governor Augustus Jaspert refused to give assent to before he departed his post earlier this year.
In his written statement, Willock said: “It is extremely concerning that the Right Honourable Dominic Raab has stated to the Premier that he is awaiting the reports from the Commission of Inquiry before making a decision as to the assent to the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act.”
Partial suspension of constitution?
Willock went on to state that Raab’s action suggests that he is giving precedence to the COI over the BVI’s constitution. He also questioned whether the lack of assent is an indication of the UK’s suspension of the BVI constitution.
“Therefore, a decision is not being taken on the basis of the clear provisions of the constitution, despite reports to the contrary. It would appear that the Right Honourable Secretary of State is giving precedence to the Commission of Inquiry over the constitution,” Willock said.
He added: “By virtue of the Commission of Inquiry taking precedence over the Constitution of the Virgin Islands, the question we may now ask, is our constitution being suspended?”
The suspension of the BVI Constitution after the conclusion of COI is a possibility that elected officials fear greatly.
This is because there was a temporary suspension of the Turks & Caicos constitution in 2009 after a similar COI was conducted in that territory.
The suspension of the constitution would also be seen as a major blow to the efforts of elected leaders who pride themselves on gaining greater self-determination for the BVI.
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Anybody elect he? I never see no other speaker talking on these things that don’t concern them. Should ln’t it be the leader of the government saying this? Stay in your lane dude
I do not believe that it is the Speakers’s job to be making these releases. They need to put him in his place.
He is feeling the pressure of the CoI, but the real pressure is being felt by Claude
If it takes a temporary suspension of the constitution to get our elected officials and the speaker out of office before election, then let’s move forward with the suspension.
The worst government in the history of the Virgin Islands.
You have no idea what you are asking for.
You NDP paid blogger …your NDP was the worst Government…look joke
NDP were the worst until these fools came in to take the crown as worst elected Government in the history of the BVI! Made the previous administration look like choir boys!
Do you think that they would of suspended an (AGRICULTURAL BILL) ? and which is more constructive or positive for the country ? For real
Is marijuana legal in the BVI?? How will it reach to the people’s hand??
keep pressing them Mr. Speaker
He ain’t pressing nobody. He jus talking to he. No one cares what the man say.
You all are running scared. The British Virgin Islands Publications has been taking the people for a ride for so long it’s about time the ride stops. The VIP party is pushing for independence so they can do what they want but the people don’t want it because we know how that will turn out so stop pushing it on the people. Not too long ago the VIP was talking about changing the Constitution. We need to get this investigation over with one way or the other, If you have nothing to fear don’t swet it.
Now that BVI has become an official Narco State the BVI Govnerment should be suspended. It is expected that we will fail our upcoming FATF peer review in June 2021 due to the fact that the BVI is associated with drug trafficking and money laundering on an organised level not seen before in the Caribbean.
F*ken e**l puppet…
It is the government’s legislative agenda not yours Mr. Willock. You are the speaker not a member of the ruling government. You continue to put yourself in things that do not concern you. Let Andrew deal with governor on this.
Look wickedness!!
Who does Hon. Willock think he is? LOL!!!
Pure rubbish! The BVI does not manufacture drugs here, it’s a transhipment point just like many other islands coming up the chain so try your best. The irony is that those who are doing the reviews are the reasons that the drugs pass through here in the first place because they are addicted and can’t do without the product.
The speaker is out of his league
That’s despicable…the BVI public is not on trial with the COI..it’s the leaders…so why hold up the people bread! Look joke here…
Bread? What kind of food you eating?
Lord, her comes terror upon all over again.
If you are carrying out an enquiries that is largely about drugs, why would you pass a drugs law before it’s finished? We won’t have long to wait.
The UK are dictators.
THEY ARE DICTATORS, BUT YOU ARE EATING THEIR FOOD AND LIVING OFF THEIR SERVICES EVERY DAY. I AM FINE LIVING UNDER UK LAW. SOON YOU AND WHOEVER KEEP BASHING THE UK WILL LEARN WHAT BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS REALLY FEELS LIKE.
The UK is acting high handedly
Keep an eye on these modern day slavery moves by the UK.
In the UK marijuana is legal but they are trying to stop the BVI from getting their share of a multimillion dollar industry. This is foolishness.
marijuana is not legal in the u.k
I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the UK
Who have more drugs running through the place than the UK.
SEE WHY WE NEED A ALL WOMEN CABINET? A ALL WOMEN CABINET IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO BUILD THE BVI BACK ON ITS FEET.
Would love to see a all female cabinet in 2023. It would make BVI HISTORY AND IT WILL BE VERY GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
This Commission of Inquiry is a modern day whip for slavery. It is not transparent and not right how it is being done. It is a mere set up.
Democracy only exist when they are in agreement.
FACTS, WOW, WOW, YOUTH, People, Clearly
Wow the fact that the youth and people are clearly the same blogger just wow!!!
LOOK JOKES, SO NOW WE KNOW WHO IS RUNNING THE BVI. HE WAS NOT ELECTED AND HE IS ALL UP IN THE SAUCE. LOL!!!!! PLEASE STAY IN YOUR LANE SIR, DON’T SWERVE.
He keep cussing the queen and wouldn’t tek off her wig off he head.
If you ARE in favor of a all women cabinet, PRESS THUMBS UP. If you are NOT in favor of a all women cabinet, PRESS THUMBS BOWN. PLEASE BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT WITH YOUR ANSWER.
Ha ha the organizers of these same anti Willock blogs can’t fool we
Hon Willock you are spot on and we the people support your position no need for us to blog like the white people
The ESTEEMED one is just FLEXING his muscles in other words – he is just letting us know who running the SHOW – CSC is just a mouth piece or just for distractional purposes ( the esteem one can make rings around those jokers without even trying •
Just don’t want to post my comment / ard you AFRAID or playin g games
Cannabis has being removed from the drug list recently. Can’t be a drug with so many different uses medical and recitational.