Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, has recently delivered statements related to Rastafari Rights Recognition Bill. The National Assembly passed the law on June 20, 2023. The day was recognized as a historic day in the Twin Island Federation.
According to the information shared by PM Drew on his official Facebook page, three bills—the Rastafari Rights Recognition Bill, the Smoking (Designated Areas) Bill, 2023; Freedom of Conscience (Cannabis) Bills, 2023; and the Drugs (Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse and Abuse of Drugs) (Amendment) Bills, 2023—were all passed during the National Assembly’s session.
It was mentioned during the discussion that members of the Rastafarian community will now benefit from the other provisions of St Kitts and Nevis and their constitutional rights.
As the country’s law and order promote the Rastafari people’s rights and culture, men and women are now significantly more appreciated and enriched to give them a better living.
Garth Wilkin, the Attorney General of Saint Kitts and Nevis, also shared his perspective on the subject and commended the government of St Kitts and Nevis for making such significant efforts.
“If there was ever a manifestation of the words penned by Robert Nesta Marley 40 years ago, in 1983, in his popular reggae song Rastaman Live Up: “Iyaman live up, Rastaman don’t give up,” this case was it,” he said in his remarks.
PM Drew emphasizes that the Rasta community has the right to legally cultivate, harvest, dry, cure, trim, smoke, and possess cannabis as a sacrament for their upliftment or identification at their places of assembly in the Twin Island Federation.
The Rasta can now access tax benefits and gain other concessions needed to promote their enterprises and farms to be grown as a result of the Rastafari Rights Bill’s presentation.
According to sources, the Medical Cannabis Authority will soon offer free access to the licence. In St Kitts and Nevis, the Rastafarian group now has the legal standing and freedom to practise its traditions.