By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has dispelled assertions that there is a weakness in local laws to prosecute drug smugglers.
Rohee said the laws are adequate and called on the judicial system to ensure that they are enforced to its ultimate stringency.
Current laws make provision for persons found trafficking to face a maximum five years in prison or pay varying fines.
The Minister also expressed concern with the frequencies of application for bail made to the High Court for persons found trafficking and what he said was the furry of granting of bail to such persons.
“What signal does it send to others who are bent on involving themselves?” he questioned.
The Home Affairs Minister said he was concerned too with the recent discoveries of cocaine and the manner in which it was concealed as he recalled the cocaine in fake awarras and more recently the cocaine in tonic.
“I am concerned about this trend, but not only the Home Affairs Minister needs to be concerned, all decent minded citizens have to be concerned, law enforcement have to be concerned and those who are involved need to be concerned with the recent discoveries,” Rohee told reporters.
He added that in recent times there have been attempts to legitimize and decriminalize the use of narcotics and other activities such as wandering and covering for drug lords and asked “Where is this coming from and who is behind it?”
He pointed to the stalled Anti – Money Laundering and countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill to support his claims of covering for drug lords.
This is the first time ever I tend to agree with Clement Rohee..There need to be more stringent punishment ..jail time and fines ..for those involved in the illegal drug business in Guyana..as means to deter others..