Dear Editor,
I was recently drawn to two news items. The first was in the Jamaica Gleaner of January 26th, 2018 where in its business section it was announced that Lasco, a major Jamaican and Caribbean manufacturing company, had created a subsidiary company and will enter the medical ganja Market (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/ article/business/20180126/lasco-enter-medical-ganja-market-creates-subsidiary-joint-venture).
The other was a Stabroek News item of February 2nd, 2018 entitled ‘Three held after Long Hook ganja raid’ where it was reported that an “…estimated 200,000 marijuana plants measuring two to six feet, 100kg processed cannabis, together with two camps were photographed and destroyed”.
Whilst the Government of Guyana continues to address the ganja trade in an archaic, non-reformist way, one of the largest manufacturing companies in the Caribbean will now capitalize on a niche agricultural product of its country. What is underlying this approach in Guyana is baffling. Guyana is an agro-based economy and despite the collapse of its primary agricultural product refuses to capitalize on a lucrative agricultural alternative. In addition, the country can ill afford the continued costs of prohibition and work with the ABC (America, Britain and Canada) countries who in their own societies are moving towards decriminalization and legalization.
The approach to this issue is a microcosm of our approach to governance and development in general.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
