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by pltm
(PLTM) - Commissioner of Police, Michael Matthews has affirmed that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) will not be bending the laws in relation to persons found with small quantities of marijuana.
Speaking during a recent airing of ‘The Raw Truth’ on PSI Online Radio, Commissioner Matthews addressed comments raised with him on the topic of cannabis and police arrests.
“I often read comments about policing and what I read is something like - stop locking up young men and women for smoking a joint on the street and go and catch proper criminals.”
Giving his position on the issue, the Commissioner declared, “First and foremost, my officers cannot pick and choose which laws we enforce. We enforce the current laws of the territory as laid down by our elected representatives, who legislate these things.”
According to Commissioner Matthews, whether or not he personally believes that smoking the narcotic is right or wrong, his job remains the same—to enforce the laws as written.
While many countries—Canada being the most recent—have legalised small quantities of cannabis for recreational purposes, a decision has not been taken in the British Virgin Islands on the issue. The Commissioner reminded that, “At the moment, it is illegal to possess, smoke, etc, cannabis.”
He however revealed that he has been engaged in conversations with the Premier on the issue, saying, “The Premier himself has spoken to me on the subject with regards whether it’s time for the territory to look at what other jurisdictions are doing and to determine whether that’s an appropriate response for this territory. And, of course, that’s not a matter for the Commissioner to give an opinion on either way.”
Over the years, the topic of marijuana and its decriminalisation has remained one of conflicting positions.
Minister of Education and Culture, Hon. Myron Wawlyn previously called for the amendment of drug laws, in order to prevent custodial sentences for persons found with small quantities of the drug.
This was also lobbied for in the House of Assembly by Minister of Health, Hon. Ronnie Skelton, who lamented the number of young people facing the brunt of the law for small quantities of the drug.
Meanwhile, Premier, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith had announced that the Government was reviewing the current laws in relation to marijuana.
However, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kim Hollis QC had said that the issue needs to be looked at from a holistic point of view.
She is on record as saying, “It’s not just the question of let’s all decriminalize cannabis. I want everyone to understand – there is a lot more to the argument and there is a lot of things that need to be considered. Otherwise, 10 or 15 years down the line, people will suddenly say why didn’t we think of that.”
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