The PNM says it voted against the Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill because Government failed to provide adequate time for proper scrutiny, consultation, and public engagement.
It says the Bill directly affects the lives, choices and freedoms of thousands, and deserved meaningful consultation.
The party also criticized the Government’s decision to reject a proposal to refer the Bill to a Joint Select Committee, as well as its refusal to accept proposed amendments from the Opposition.
It maintains that consultation is an essential part of responsible law-making and says it cannot support a Bill it considered “flawed and excessively punitive”.
Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles also issued a separate statement in which she reiterated specific concerns with the Bill.
She listed these as:
- Inadequate Time for Parliamentary Scrutiny
- The Need for Consultation and a Joint Select Committee
- Disproportionate Increases in Penalties
- The Impact on Children and Young People
- Enforcement, Evidence and the Real-World Impact
Ms Beckles insisted “legislation cannot substitute for policing, penalties cannot substitute for rehabilitation, and criminalisation cannot substitute for opportunity.”
The Bill has been passed in the Lower House with 23 votes for, 10 against, and no abstentions.
