UK was 'wrong' to block Bermuda's cannabis legislation– MP Lloyd C. Russell-Moyle
“Representation, it to me in this modern world seems wrong that when we are negotiating international treaties that there is no representation,” from OTs, he said during a debate on the Future of Overseas Territories while in the House of Commons on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Wrong for British to intervene - British MP
“The fact that Britain intervened on Bermuda to stop their laws around the declassification of cannabis, which I think was right for them to do, was wrong for Britain to intervene based on international treaties that they've had no say on in this place, so I hope we can resolve that issue as well,” he added.
Over in Bermuda, the Governor Rena Lalgie, reserved assent on legislation permitting a regulated cannabis industry for the island after Bermuda’s approved its Cannabis Licensing Act in March 2022.
Ms Lalgie said in September she had been instructed by the UK’s foreign secretary to refuse royal assent, citing Britain’s obligations regarding the drug under international law.
Back in July 2020, The Government of The Virgin Islands also passed its bill to legalise the medical and therapeutic use of cannabis, allowing for the possession of the drug in small amounts. The Cannabis Licensing Act 2020 also provided a framework for a medical marijuana industry in the territory and for the establishment of an industry.
UK hold up of VI Bill; No Assent by Governor
In 2020, then Governor Augustus J.U Jaspert said the bill presented potential economic opportunities for the Territory and applauded the efforts to diversify the economy.
“Therefore, the focus over the past months has been to establish what steps need to be taken for assent to be granted so that any new medical marijuana industry is successful.”
He had added; however, that following extensive consultation, the VI had received advice from the UK Government’s Home Office which acts as the licensing authority for narcotics in VI, including medical narcotics.
“The Cannabis Licensing Act would change that, establishing in law a new authority in BVI that would take over this responsibility from the Home Office. For this to happen, BVI and the Home Office need to work together to take preliminary steps to transfer the authority and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a binding agreement between the two Governments.”
VI will have responsibility to ensure compliance
As such, the bill was held up until there was certainty for all involved that the VI’s new industry will not breach the 1961 Convention or any international law now or in the future, which to date has still not been assented.
The then governor had said when assent is granted the Territory will have responsibility for ensuring its own compliance with international laws relating to the matter.
“The authority will need to be fully staffed, creating new jobs and building new capabilities for our people. Its establishment will also be a significant step forward in terms of BVI’s overall self-determination, as BVI takes ownership of a responsibility currently performed by the UK. I look forward to this taking place and to the beginning of a new medical marijuana industry here in BVI,” he said.
UK & VI found 'way forward'- Premier
More recently on January 23, 2023, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley revealed that the VI has found a way forward on medicinal cannabis and that work has begun to put the necessary regimes in place for approvals.
He added that he intends as soon as possible, to engage with the Governor's Office as well as his Cabinet colleagues as it pertains to how to approach legislation moving forward.
“Of course, as you know, there was the Cannabis Licensing Act that was due for assent [by the Governor]. We [need to] have discussions as to whether that's the way that we want to go right now because we have legislation on our books that allows the Minister for Health to be able to create regulations that will essentially allow cannabis to be legally administered in the BVI,” he detailed.
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22 Responses to “UK was 'wrong' to block Bermuda's cannabis legislation– MP Lloyd C. Russell-Moyle”
1) The Public Service which is under their responsibility & have failed it for the past 40yrs & using the well organized COI to cover up their neglect & failure & trying to put all the blame on elected officials.
2) Block the passing of BVI medicinal Marijuana laws passed in HOA which would have brought in millions of dollars of needed revenue like it is doing in the UK & other countries but instead the UK is directing & dictating the BVI pass same sex marriage which has no financial or social benefits.
3) Not once in the last 50 years have the UK ever made a Caribbean OT person a Governor. This would have showed they were serious in helping OTs mature to the next level. As a matter of fact it is only recently they have attempted to respect women and made one a Governor in 2019 in Bermuda. What hypocrisy. What an insult.
4) The Governor & his UK bosses are always using the new controlling buzz word good governance. Yet they refuse to have the Governor & all Uk public officers serving in the BVI & other OTs to register their interests locally with the register of interest Act in the island where they are serving as all elected & public officers are required to do by law. How do they get to be above the law especially with all the rumors of questionable conduct by some while serving in the OTs.
5) Rightfully insisting transparency in awarding of contracts through the tender process. Yet they neglected to do so when they hired the Commissioner of the COI in BVI. They hand picked that person. They gave him the Terms of Reference written by them to get out what they wanted. They gave him staff from their office. All this and more and then trying to fool us once again the process and outcome were all transparent and done independent of them. What a set up. If an elected official did such the actions would have been called out and condemned.
6) Their pre-determined COI recommendations excluded the neglect of duty by the Governor & his responsibilities but we should expect this as they will not look into themselves.
7) The Governor is now sowing seeds of discord knowing full well most of the recommendations will be difficult or near impossible to implement and the timeframe given to do so is also unrealistic and unreasonable. What another well organized set up.
8) The Governor is over the police and watched numerous senior officers retire in the last 10yrs and had absolutely no succession plan in place to replace them which is by design so they can now take over the force with imported UK Officers. To retire you would have had to work for at least 25yrs so no one's retirement from the Police Force should take anyone by surprise. Another failure of theirs that is being covered up.
9) After Irma they brought in a war ship with thousands of body bags as they thought the BVI people were all dead. They did not give the BVI any significant help. Not a loan. Not grants like they gave to other Caribbean Countires who are not under them as an Overseas Territory. Imagine they gave a loan guarantee in which the conditions of such guarantee dictated who the loan must be received from as well as the UK being in full control of the BVI budget and economy for the life of the loan which was for the next 30 to 40yrs. This was tantamount to direct rule. Probably this is why they called the COI to do what the loan guarantee plot did not achieve.
10) The Governor & his bosses left the BVI to fend for themselves during Covid as they said publicly when the BVI Government requested grants & assistance that the BVI must use their own resources to help the BVI people as the UK has to now do the same for their UK residents. Long after is when they supplied vaccines. Again they thought this would have been the end of the BVI economy and all they would have to do in the end was step in & seen as the saviors. When that did not work they move on to the next plan the COI.
11) While the BVI was suffering & dying from Covid the UK launch a well organized COI on the BVI with predetermined outcomes to try to achieve what all their other efforts failed to do. Yet in the UK where there were increasing allegations of corruption especially in the handling of Covid, they decided it was not in the best interest of the people of the UK to do a COI as it would consume time & resources that is needed to save lives from Covid. What a DOUBLE STANDARD.
12) Let us not forget years ago the UK implemented an At-Large system in the BVI that does not exist anywhere else in this form. They were advised it will not work. However, once again they did it to get out Lavity but as usual the BVI being resilient found how to overcome.
13) They could not cripple the BVI with the At-Large system, nor the conditions of the loan guarantee, nor by not helping with Irma in a meaningful way, nor with Covid. Now the new plan is to use the two Orders in Council for financial services & the country overall through their pre-authored COI recommendations.
I will stop there for now. I am not saying the BVI does not need to improve in many areas but which country doesn't. As a people we are just as educated and experienced as them so we need to stop letting them make us think we are not good people and we are not worthy to lead ourselves. It is time to get out of this abusive relationship. It is time for independence as they will never move in the BVI's best interest although they always will say otherwise or look like they are doing otherwise through their always well calculated actions. The BVI is a resilient people & they cannot understand how they have not conquer the BVI as yet but God is with the BVI through their Prayers to Him. They have the BVI & Caribbean OTs as property and not as people. This will never change.
The UK: We passed legislation to legalize the marijuana industry, but we cannot allow our OTs to do the same or you will have some economic leverage.
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