Time we change the laws on bail for marijuana possession

Jan 27, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
On January 25, 2017, I was again hurt and saddened when I read the various news-papers in Guyana. As is their custom, the courts of Guyana continue to discriminate against young black men by denying them bail for the crime of “smoking weed”, legally referred to as possession of cannabis. These injustices become ever more glaring when compared to the handling of other cases by the same magistrates. I have included a few in today’s papers to highlight my point.
The accused of the following charges were all granted bail; Seon David, released on $70,000 bail for unlawful wounding. Devon Josephs, released on $30,000 bail for Larceny. Deon Griffith, released on $200,000 bail for Robbery. Leslie Lewis released on $75,000 bail for Larceny. Eon Griffiths released on $20,000 bail for Larceny. However, Carlos Ross and Sherlock Goodridge- possession of cannabis of 25g; no bail He was remand to prison. I believe every citizen should be deem innocent until proven otherwise and I have no opinion on the other accused being given bail. But I am hurt and grieved to see that “weed smokers” continued to be discriminated against by Guyanese judges. “Weed accused” are not afforded the same pre-trial liberties as other offenders.
I am a black man, I am of African descent, and when I check the ethnicity of all those men remanded to prison for the charge of possession of weed, ninety percent are young black men. It is time, it is way past the time, that Caribbean Governments generally and the Government of Guyana specifically, follow Jamaica’s bold lead and remove these racist, colonialist, apartheid and slavery laws from the backs of young black men. We are turning our young black men into criminals. It is time judges in Guyana cease their discrimination against young black men and grant them bail for “weed” offences. I call on The President of Guyana, the Attorney General, the Chancellor of the Judiciary and whoever else has influence with the courts to impress upon the judges of this nation the need to cease their discriminating practice of denying bail for the possession of weed charges. It is discrimination.
Lennox Grandison

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