Comments on: PLP To Launch ‘Informed Task Group’ On Crime

By: Frankly Speaking

Frankly Speaking — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:18:47 +0000

Look where Bermuda falls on this table of prison population rates, by country.

http://www.prisonstudies.org/info/worldbrief/wpb_stats.php?area=all&category=wb_poprate

By: Frankly Speaking

Frankly Speaking — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:56:17 +0000

Maybe marijuana reform in Bermuda can even be taken a step further. Too many of our young people are criminalized for having a small joint for personal use. In most instances that individual is doing no harm to society, especially if they partake of it in the confines of their home . These young Bermudians (several with very great potential) are then disadvantaged when it comes to applying for jobs, or when they want to get away from the rock for a while, to clear their heads and returned refreshed and reinvigorated. Once they are caught by police, they are more than likely automatically placed on the stop list. We seem to punish our young people harsher for minor marijuana infractions, than most other countries, even the US itself. How many Amaricans are put on any form of stop list for being caught with a marijuana cigarette. What prevails here. presently is a vicious cycle where some of those same young men who are on the stop-list, feel so disadvantaged by the system that they link with the wrong crowd, due to the fact that they are stuck on the island they then resort to all types of undesirable activity to pass the time. While I believe in the rule of law and that there should be requisite punishments/consequences for crimes that are legislated, I believe that this particular subject matter / legislation is ripe for review. The timing ( with all the present developments going on in the world In relation to this subject matter) as well as the more recent paradigm shift as regards the potentially usefulness of the herb , it is full time that we in Bermuda take a serious, hard look at the way forward from here on in. Please see article link below.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130916/lead/lead3.html

Notwithstanding what I have said above, we should not ease up pressure on the illicit traders, smugglers, dealers, suppliers as well as the big fishes behind the various distribution operations. This is where government needs to step in and regulate the industry, implement relevant consumption taxes and embark on an education campaign geared to our up and coming youngsters.

What I would like to see a cessation of however, is tourists getting locked up on cruise ships, just because they has a small amount of marijuana for personal or medicinal use while on their vacation. Bermuda can I’ll afford to turn away potential tourists who want the freedom to properly unwind while on a cruise (something which most have saved up several years to accomplish). They will just choose another destination that is a little more accommodating another time. I must close by saying, that although I am a proponent for marijuana reform, I am definitely not a user. I am speaking off my general experience and common sense.

By: Frankly Speaking

Frankly Speaking — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:50:45 +0000

The question that needs to be asked is what fuels gun violence on the island. Most people would agree that it is a mostly as a result gang activity, which is linked to the illicit drug trade. Drug dealing is a very lucrative employ on the island, with rival gangs getting involved in regular skirmishes and alas, shooting incidents, all for the sake of securing or acquiring turf, or as acts of revenge/retaliation. Maybe if the profit was taken away from drug-dealing, this might positively impact the incidence of shootings and other violent crime. There might be a simple solution, but it would take political courage (testicular fortitude as it were) to implement. Bermuda perhaps needs to follow the lead set by Washington State and Colorado (in relation to legalizing small amounts of marijuana for recreational use) or California and the host of other states (that have legalized marijuana for medicinal use). If the requisite legislation is passed, there can then be vigorous regulation and taxation, accompanied by an education campaign to steer our youngsters away from this particular lifestyle choice. I am painfully aware that there are other hard drugs that the above-mentioned lesligation would not cover, but based on my limited knowledge, i believe that marijuana is the drug of choice here, so I am somewhat convinced that if we affect the illicit drug dealers’ ability to profit from its trade, we will be successful in making a significant dent in the incidence of shootings. The economy could also benefit from the additional positive ‘spin-off’ effects (increased revenue collection for government through taxation and the potential to attract a more vast and varied pool of tourists, are two that I can immediately think of). It would be refreshing if both parties could work together to implement my recommendation, as both have a stake in Bermuda’s future security and economic well-being. Crime and the perception of crime does have the potential to negatively affect Bermuda’s two main economic pillars. In fact, they have already started to do so.

By: Xman

Xman — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:31:06 +0000

A little late to come up with all these ideas now! – like 10 years to late’
had they come up with these idea’s some 10 years ago – maybe -just maybe we wouldn’t have had the level
of crime we have today.

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:29:47 +0000

Shadow Minister Michael Scott what a great “idea” to collaborate with the leading Party(O.B.A.) if not it will be viewed as just more, “pie in the sky” rhetoric being presented to we the public by the Opposition party,(Progressive Labour Party)

By: Lebron

Lebron — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:08:18 +0000

Yep, they can bring their vast experience of getting it hopelessly wrong, and somehow come out with all the answers.

We haven’t forgotten that you caused this PLP.

By: smiths

smiths — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 00:12:30 +0000

too little too late PLP….your turn is over, get over it.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 00:05:17 +0000

Couldn’t think of a better, more knowledgeable, group to study crime. Will they be bringing a foreign expert in the field, from a little island near Rhode Island, to help them out?

By: Faith

Faith — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:36:08 +0000

Let us hope this is a serious attempt to find viable solutions and not just a way for the ‘same old’ to get their faces and names in the news, so to get better set for the next election cycle.

By: Y-Gurl

Y-Gurl — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 21:45:19 +0000

Who knows, look at the dismal results of the BPS

By: Hey

Hey — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 17:30:26 +0000

PLP plan to plan a plan AGAIN!

By: CBA

CBA — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:18:02 +0000

Because the PLP knows so much about fighting crime? More politics…

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:04:26 +0000

jeez..I need more coffee!

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:03:58 +0000

Heard!

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:03:43 +0000

heared it all before!