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Rehab instead of prison recommended for ganja users

Nov 27, 2009 News

There is a need to review the relevant law to allow for persons (users) found with small quantities of marijuana (a joint or ‘spliff’) to be sent for rehabilitation instead of prison.
This is one of the recommendations coming out of the National Crime Prevention Conference which concluded on Wednesday at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal.
Should the recommendation be implemented it could assist with the reduction of overcrowding of the prisons.
Participants at the conference also recommended that first time drug offenders should receive a lenient sentence (depending on quantity of marijuana).
According to a summary document of the conference, the current sentencing policies as it relates to drugs should be revisited.
The insufficient supply of rehabilitation services for drug addicts was observed by the conference’s working group.
It was noted that the Salvation Army is the primary supplier of rehabilitation services in Guyana and provides the only Rehabilitation centre for resident treatment.
The need to establish a rehabilitation centre for female addicts was also underscored since it was observed that women play an important role in stabilizing the family.
Another recommendation is for religious bodies of Guyana to play a more important and vibrant role in molding the lives of young people, since this could aid in the reduction in drug use.
This is coupled with the greater need for parental involvement in the lives of children and they should share with the relevant authorities’ information on drug dealers in their communities.
The conference also recommended that law enforcement agencies need to be more aggressive in the fight against drugs, with more focus on both demand and supply (zero-tolerance of drug dealers/incentives).
Aggressive anti-money laundering initiatives should also be undertaken.
Another significant recommendation is for consideration to be given to the formulation of ‘Whistleblower’ legislation.
Overall, a declaration for greater community involvement in the fight against drug trafficking should be advocated.

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