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Under pressure Governor to assent to Cannabis Licensing Act

- Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act 2020, facing scrutiny by UK Financial Secretary
Embattled outgoing Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI), H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert has bowed to pressure regarding the hold-up of the marijuana legislation in the Virgin Islands, and will now move ahead with the assent of the bill. Photo: VINO/File
Passed since July 2020 in the House of Assembly (HoA), the major Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020, had been with the governor for several months awaiting assent. Photo: Internet Source
Passed since July 2020 in the House of Assembly (HoA), the major Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020, had been with the governor for several months awaiting assent. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Embattled outgoing Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI), H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert has bowed to pressure regarding the hold-up of the marijuana legislation in the Virgin Islands, and will now move ahead with the assent of the bill.

Passed since July 2020 in the House of Assembly (HoA), the major Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020, had been with the governor for several months awaiting assent.

UK had to Cross-Examine bill - Governor Jaspert claims

Now, according to Governor Jaspert, in a December 10, 2020, statement, the holdup was as a result of cross-examination and ‘line by line’ scrutiny in the UK to ensure both bills were in compliance with international laws.

Due to the hold-up, the Governor had faced heavy backlash from both community members and the government, for stalling the startup of the VI’s medical marijuana industry and its adverse effects on job creation.

"I regret that the consideration of these bills has taken some time, but I am grateful to the Premier, Members of the House of Assembly and the people of BVI for their patience,” the Governor said.

Mr Jaspert continued, “As I hope all can appreciate, it is incredibly important to get this right and ensure that BVI remains compliant with international law. I am pleased that we are now at a point where we can move forward, I hope positively, on these bills,” he said.

With the Governor given the go-ahead to assent the bill, it could be a matter of days or even hours before it becomes law.

VI Licencing authority to be established  

For the Cannabis Licensing Act 2020, he said the VI would have to collaborate with the UK to establish a licencing authority for cannabis in the VI, as that responsibility is currently vested in the Home office. 

“For this to happen, BVI and the Home Office need to work together to take preliminary steps to transfer the authority and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a binding agreement between the two Governments.”

Meanwhile, regarding the holdup of another bill, the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act 2020, Governor Jaspert said, the UK Foreign Secretary wants to give further consideration to this bill to explore the possible effects of decriminalising the possession of a recreational drug and thereby potentially increasing its trade– at this time. 

More details to come.

31 Responses to “Under pressure Governor to assent to Cannabis Licensing Act”

  • STALLING (10/12/2020, 13:05) Like (4) Dislike (20) Reply
    VI Licencing authority to be established

    For the Cannabis Licensing Act 2020, he said the VI would have to collaborate with the UK to establish a licencing authority for cannabis in the VI, as that responsibility is currently vested in the Home office. <<<< This going be a another MF HOLD UP.

    Why Jaspert feel people of the virgin islands STUPID? Prolong the assent......
    Then there will be the prolonged establishment of the Licensing Authority

    Plus having to put UK members on the board that will create stumbling blocks for the forward progression of cannibis sale...

    Thus slowing up or path to revenue and profitability .... and "EXPLAINED WEALTH" in the BVI.

    GET OUT OF HERE WTH THIS BS GOVERNOR WE THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI DONE SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS.

    YOU HAVE VILE UNDERMINIG WAYS AND WE AINT FALLING FOR IT.
    • No chance (11/12/2020, 11:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Jonah won’t sign it before he is recalled early in January.- he is putting his own personal interests above those of the Territory. Hopefully the new Guv will sign when he arrives, or David Archer will sign it in the interim between Jonah leaving and the new Guv arriving from Bermuda.
  • HomedoesntFEELlikeHome (10/12/2020, 13:17) Like (5) Dislike (13) Reply
    Home in HOME office.

    Sounds like another case of these people telling the VI they are unable to handle their own affairs ONLY in matters of them exerting control...this is crazy in a time when information is easily accessible.

  • By chance ??? (10/12/2020, 13:21) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    Could it be that the UN's recent changes in its position regarding cannabis (medical marijuana) made it easier for the governor to accent the bill or is it merely coincidental? Just wondering???
  • facts (10/12/2020, 13:28) Like (7) Dislike (23) Reply
    The governor is the symbol of racist moves and oppression
  • SB (10/12/2020, 13:31) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    Nice and when creating the Authority please include professionals with cannabis experience. Please no old people and squares who been dissing and degrading the plant for years. Those same people looking to receive a salary due to the same plant they been disrespecting. Never trying to educate themselves properly about this life saving plant.
  • Ghost (10/12/2020, 13:47) Like (36) Dislike (3) Reply
    Though I understand the need to generate revenue streams especially in this time I always felt that monies should have been invested in growing food not marijuana but...
  • west (10/12/2020, 13:52) Like (24) Dislike (5) Reply
    This present government is so way out of touch with degrees that dem cannot see beyond themselves. Which 21st Century leader would not put food security (agriculture) a priority for their country. ONLY to encourage drugs in ANY form as a priory. Shame on you!!
    • Trust God not man (10/12/2020, 19:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @west l totally agree with you that food should be p!wanted. We do not need the government to tell us or do it for us. We can alk plant our own food. Marijuana is not a drug , it is one if the strongest plants( its fibers) there are other ways to use the plant apart from smoking it. I am sure you know that. Finally The ALMIGHTY CREATOR created it. So who are we going to trust?
  • Arnold (10/12/2020, 14:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bam
  • Thankful (10/12/2020, 14:37) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    Thanks for all of your hard work Governor and thanks for assisting with the new VISAR boat!!!! Thank goodness for the help of the UK. https://bvinews.com/visar-receives-174k-to-purchase-new-vessel-support-operations/
    • @Thankful (11/12/2020, 06:36) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Hard work boss??? the faster we see his back the better for we people, the man is a snake
  • hmm (10/12/2020, 14:48) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    VINO you need to change your story. This law will NOT be assented to without lots of work between BVIG and the UKFCO.
    • HL (11/12/2020, 06:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is what happens when you only read headline, the story has the conditions of when and how he will assent to he bill... and that is a matter for the UK and BVI to decide, as it is out of his court and awaiting the two to come to an agreement.
  • UNDER WHAT PRESSURE???? (10/12/2020, 14:57) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    THE UN is the reason this law is now signed.
    • Local (10/12/2020, 19:41) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      WHAT THE PREMIER SHOULD BE GETTING PEOPLE TO PLANT IS FOOD PUT MONEY INTO AGRICULTURE GET SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT HYDROPONICS YOU CAN START SMALL THE LOCAL THINGS WILL SELL. IF A SERIOUS DISASTER HIT AND FOOD CANNOT COME IN WHAT WILL WE ALL EAT. I HAVE READ SOME NASTY BLOGS ABOUT OUT CARIBBEAN PEOPLE BE VERY CAREFUL THEY WILL BE OUR ONLY HOPE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS. I HOPE THE UK TELL HIM PLANT FOOD INSTEAD OF MARIJUARNA.
      • Ghost (11/12/2020, 02:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Local.. I am with you in this.. I have been saying over and over for us all to live better in love with each other and stop the back and forth bashing of each other..We may think we don’t need each other but we do and NONE OF US KNOW WHAT TOMORR MAY BRING. We may have to beg our same Caribbean brothers and sisters to feed us!!.. we may do No now but who knows.. so again I am begging us to work out our differences; both sides stop doing the wrongs things to each other and even to our government and let’s live in love with each other.. God said for us to Love one another! We have become too wicked a people in the earth!
  • Schevell (10/12/2020, 15:25) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Mr. Gov.
    while this explanation is plausible and acceptable it is nonetheless the absence of an explanation to both the public and to the house in conjuction with weak people skills that created the furor. Unfortunately too little too late. We wish and hope for a quick exit from these paths as we seek to develop or reestablish some sense of trust in our leaders.
  • Santa Claus ho ho ho (10/12/2020, 16:41) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    I only hope when this canabis thing or what ever you call it level off the hospital would have a special wing for those who can't handle it food for thought wise up my people
  • asking for a friend (10/12/2020, 17:41) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    That racist still in the bvi?
  • judge (10/12/2020, 18:08) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    I ask again who will investigate this governor and police commissioner
  • Tell us (10/12/2020, 18:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why the hell you don't print the full STATEMENT OF WHAT THE GOV..... SAID. ?
  • priest (10/12/2020, 19:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Governor did not bow to pressure. It was a calculated move. Have you ever been in a position where you withheld something from a person that you knew was bad for them but because they insisted they wanted it you gave it to them? Well, the bill will eventually pass but remember we ask for it.
  • bvi (10/12/2020, 19:31) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    under what pressure, you guys dont realize that the governor dont even bother with you all, what pressure? lol lol lol,
  • ztrzrt (10/12/2020, 21:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  • Gus is wrong (11/12/2020, 06:37) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    We free slaves must continue to fight racism
  • anger (11/12/2020, 06:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop taking out your anger on the governor. You are only hurting. The people of this territory..Showthe good you will do for this place.
  • WHY? (11/12/2020, 07:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why governor white staff always drinking & smoking at work?????
  • @Why (11/12/2020, 11:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does government employees do any different than the whites.
    Check by the bars, the first chance they get blacks always drinking on the job and taking a smoke.
  • time to pull a Canada (11/12/2020, 12:10) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Its time to do what Canada did.. Independence AND legal weed. The UK has had its chance. Its time to cut the apron strings and move out of Mom and Dad's house.
  • tretretrete (11/12/2020, 15:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    who we need to pressure to get bigger bikes in BVI


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