Jagdeo has changed his position on marijuana

Dear Editor,

Now that Mr Jagdeo and his PPP comrades are in some kind of superficial support of legalizing marijuana, allow me to expose their hypocrisy on the issue.

In July, 2011 (not so long ago) Mr Jagdeo met with a group of Rastafarians, at the launch of the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD), and boldly declared that this marijuana business would outlive his presidency; there would be no change in the law whilst he was there.

Interestingly, Mr Jagdeo at the very conference, declared, “I am a little concerned when the countries that lecture us on this issue … are busy legalizing marijuana on a ballot…”

Editor, for years, hundreds of Guyanese (mostly young people) have been jailed for small amounts of marijuana. And the numerous calls by a few of us activists, and members of the Guyana Rastafarian Council for the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, fell on deaf ears during Mr Jagdeo’s reign.

Maybe he can explain his position now, other than scoring cheap political points.

Yours faithfully,

Mark A Benschop