Douglas fumes at Speaker for denying opposition to debate on Drugs Act amendment

Launching an attack on the government, St Kitts and Neivs opposition leader Dr Denzil Douglas alleged that opposition was kept away from making a contribution to the Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019 debate in the parliament on Wednesday. He fumed at Speaker of National Assembly Hon Micheal Perkins and Prime Minister Timothy Harris for initiating the proceedings of the house before the promised time.

As per official information, members of the parliament were informed that the debate on the amendment of Drugs Act would resume in the afternoon on Wednesday at 1.30 pm. However, the proceedings of the house were started earlier and PM Dr Harris was allowed to move the legislation by Speaker, while several members of the government benches were not present.

Dr Douglas said that he wants to inform the people of St Kitts and Nevis that the government was very dishonest in allowing the parliamentary proceedings to start before the promised time which was 1.30 this afternoon and the speaker has supported them in this act.

"In the morning we were informed that the parliament was adjourned until 1.30 and proceedings have been delayed. This was a deliberate, dishonest and very deceptive on the part of the mover of the bill, Dr Harris and his colleagues and the Speaker in particular to have started the continuation of the debate as we were told yesterday and this morning at 1.30 when in fact they did not have any intention of allowing members of the opposition to speak," Dr Douglas said.

Dr Douglas said the bill does not speak to the issues that continue to confront the people with regard to the use of marijuana in St Kitts and Nevis.