By Nasratu Kargbo
Presenting pictures of swollen limbs infested with dreadful sores, corpses, and zombie-looking youths, euphoria of willingness to fight the scourge filled the well of parliament as members of parliament unanimously approved the Drug and Substance Abuse Public Emergency Response Regulations 2024, and called on the police, judiciary, task force, and other stakeholders to be stringent in their implementation.
Members whilst making their contributions on the 23rd of April 2024 raised concerns on certain areas and issues that they say would make the regulation better, the leaders therefore agreed that the leadership of parliament in tandem with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley will have an engagement to make some amendments.
Some of the issues raised include the fifteen thousand Leones fine being levied against defaulters, according to many, the amount is small and it will not discourage Drug Lords from investing in the business. They asked that the amount be increased.
Others also noted that the extant law seems to be more stringent than the instrument, noting that the jail term in the existing law states life imprisonment whilst the regulation states an amount of five to ten years imprisonment.
They also stressed the need for the police and judiciary to do their part in the fight against Kush and other harmful substances.
Some of the MPs talked about them being part of the process, stating that they can greatly contribute to ending the menace by sensitizing the residents in their districts about the grave effect of the substance.
They also emphasized the need to empower the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with a good number of them blaming the inadequate resources and manpower of the agency being the reason for the agency’s ineffectiveness.
After learning that the agency does not even have a car, the Acting Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas asked that the NDLEA boss Andrew J. Kai Kai write a letter to the Chairman of the Committee on Transport Madaa Lebbie, promising to follow up and ensure that something is done about it.
The Members of parliament pledged to be part of the fight.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (24/04/24)
