PRESS RELEASE-The United Workers Party(UWP) in its 2019 Manifesto gave the solemn promise that if elected to office, it would in the first one (100) hundred days approve and enact policy framework legislation and regulations to legalize, grow and process marijuana into manufactured health products. This would be part of the overall strategy toward economic resilience and would be done under strict regulations to protect our children and youths.
In the year 2020, instead of discussing the recommendations made by the United Workers Party on the marijuana industry and using part of the revenue to boost agro-processing to diversify the agricultural sector, the Government of Dominica chose to legalize the possession of 28 grams of Marijuana and the cultivation of not more than three plants. When Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit led the passage of this new Law he pronounced that “this was indeed a great day for Dominica that we can have this passed in law”.
At that time the United Workers Party argued that this would not be in the interest of the Dominican people since it would just encourage our youths to smoke but not to create entrepreneurial opportunities to enhance their livelihood. Now, in 2023, within three (3) months in office after calling a snap election, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is now hypocritically lamenting the high incidence of the indiscriminate smoking of marijuana by our young people and the associated health hazards.
The United Workers Party has always been concerned about the future and plight of the young people of Dominica who are so frustrated battling unemployment, underemployment, mental problems, and many more socio-economic problems as a result of a failing economy, under a regime that has emasculated the populace, more so the youth. Consequently, the youth feel that their only option is to sit on the street corners and indiscriminately smoke marijuana. This constant smoking of weed could permanently harm their mental capacities and could increase social anxiety disorders. All people of good conscience in Dominica have a moral obligation to protect our children and young people from exposure to bad decisions made by our leaders in their quest for absolute power, regardless of the trail of broken lives that are left in their wake.
The United Workers Party’s approach on this issue remains clear: we must prevent indiscriminate use of marijuana in our communities and ensure law enforcement protects law enforcement
protects society by enforcing the laws and tackling the organized crime that is associated with the drug trade. The Party also recommends that the Government revisits its drug policy by taking a balanced, coherent, and consolidated approach to address the evolving challenges posed. While as a party, we support the medicinal cannabis industry, we stand firm on the premise that our young people must be protected at all costs, and that measures must be put in place to channel their energy into productive areas. The UWP further calls on the government of Dominica to establish a National Rehabilitation Centre. Establish well-equipped sporting facilities where the youth can train to participate effectively in local, regional, and international tournaments. Increase the capabilities and capacities of the Island’s youth by placing a lot more emphasis on their training in and acquisition of technical and vocational skills.