Picture: NRP Federal Parliamentarian, Hon. Patrice Nisbett
Charlestown, Nevis (Wednesday, February 15th, 2017)- Former Attorney General and Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) Federal representative in the St. Kitts- Nevis Parliament, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett explained the constitutional right of the Nevis Island Legislature to decriminalize and regulate cannabis.
Nisbett made the explanation recently on the popular radio program, “On Target” with host, Mr. Dwight Cozier on Choice 105.3 FM.
“Yes, marijuana is a plant and growing crops in Nevis is engaging in the Agriculture industry. In Section 37 (2) of the Constitution order of St. Christopher – Nevis says as follows: Save as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4) the power of parliament to make laws having effect in the island of Nevis shall not extend to any of the specified matters (that is to say, matters with respect to which the Nevis Island Legislature has exclusive power to make laws so having effect). Now in Section 119 of the Constitution where it says, specified matters means in relation to the government of the island of Nevis, a matter specified in schedule (5) to the Constitution. In schedule 5 outlines matters in respect to which the Nevis Island Legislation has exclusive power to make law. The first subject matter is Agriculture, therefore the Nevis Island Legislature has powers to make laws in respect to marijuana – an Agriculture matter,” said Hon. Nisbett.
The Hon. Mark Brantley who is the Concerned Citizen Movement (CCM) Deputy Premier of Nevis and also a lawyer made the announcement recently that the Nevis Island Administration does not have the power to legalize Cannabis.
In response to Brantley’s statement, the Hon. Nisbett said that any Minister of Government who says, “The decriminalizing of marijuana has to come from the Federal government” is chatting nonsense!
According to the Former Attorney General and the St. Christopher- Nevis Constitution, if the Nevis Reformation Party wins the government tomorrow they can decide what agriculture crops are grown in Nevis.
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