VI lost potential investors due to hold up of Cannabis Bill- Premier Fahie
The Premier’s statements come following a December 10, 2020, update from Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert on the Cannabis Licensing Act 2020, which he said will be assented to pending a Memorandum of Understanding and more collaborations with the United Kingdom (UK) to establish a legal framework for the industry.
Foreign Secretary involvement a first - Premier
“Mr Speaker, we know that the Cannabis Legislation has not been assented to, and for the first time ever in my history of being in politics or checking around the Caribbean, I am understanding now that the Foreign Secretary is the one who will be dealing with having it assented to and we're going to be involved in some MoU and different areas,” Hon Fahie said.
The Premier was at the time speaking at today’s, December 14, 2020, Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on the topic of revenue generators and income diversification.
“Mr Speaker, I pray that this is not something done to stop us even further, but something that is done to help push forward this matter and have it done very quickly,” the Premier went on to say.
Lost investors & delays a concern
He said so far, the Virgin Islands (VI) has already lost several potential investors in the sector as a result of the hold-up, and these investors have not invested in other places.
“This, Mr Speaker, is room for concern because when we pass the Cannabis legislation, despite all the negative talk around it… we have seen lately where the United Nations have come forward now, independent of what we have passed but yet now, to validate everything that was passed in that building stage.”
He said while the United Nations (UN), which has recently reclassified marijuana as a less dangerous drug, did not mention the VI, their policies matched up against the territory’s active and diligent drive to ensure that all the measures in the bills were compliant with international laws.
Bill has no legal violations - Premier
“So, we are not in violation and we kept saying that all the time, there is no legal violation so we couldn't understand why it was not being assented to,” adding that he who controls the economics, "controls your country.”
The Premier noted; however, that the VI cannot afford the delays to continue as they have already adversely impacted the local economy and investment climate.
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17 Responses to “VI lost potential investors due to hold up of Cannabis Bill- Premier Fahie”
Dislike if you want him to leave the BVI
Now let me have a few words, if you please in reference to the delayed carnabis bill. Our Premier said the investers were lost because of this delayed, also mean finance are being holdup, delay, etc. Marijuana in itself is not an evil tree, but evil minded persons use the gio tree to perform evil deeds. Amen. The two men that I wrote about at the top part of this writing, are being trapped by one of marijuana's properties. What should we do to safeguard or youth? Is money more valuable to us than their sanity and welbeing? Yes, it is us that need money. Money don't us. They the youths need us. It is time that we stop playing politics with human lives. God loves us all equally, shouldn't we one and others? YES WE SHOULD. WITH God'S HELP WE CAN. With God's helP WE CAN. GOD'S LOVE IS FOR EVER IN US, IF WE PRACTICE IT TO HIM AND OTHERS. THIS IS THE IMMOVABLE LAW, THE LAW OF GOD'S LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE EVERY WHERE. STAY UP WITH HOPE. WE SHOULD BE WISE NOT TO GO DOWN WITH DOPE.