EDITOR, The Tribune.

The current debate on decriminalisation of offences involving small quantities of marijuana leads us to a much larger issue which simmers in our country. And that is the jailing of our citizens for minor infractions of the law.

The mindset that created, and perpetuates, these pernicious provisions in the law has its roots in ancient religious practices, slavery, colonialism and the “divine right of kings”, which granted the power to deprive a man of his liberty for even the most frivolous of offences.

It is simply unthinkable that we continue to have laws that allow imprisonment for something like a minor traffic offence. It is not sufficient that a pecuniary punishment is levied.

No, we hold the threat of prison over the head of our people to humiliate and keep them in check.

The latest example of this is the prison term threatened on top of the heavy fines for violation of the ridiculous provisions on plastic bags. The anger pulsing in our population related to constant threat to our bodies and souls lies at the heart of so many problems confronting the society.

We must sweep these punitive provisions from all of our laws, and replace them with appropriate remedies aimed at restoration and rehabilitation.

Those leaders who hold on to the old mindset have no place in a modern society, which must be about cultivating the very best in all of our citizens, so that they may make a positive contribution to the country.

SHAYNE DAVIS

Nassau,

January 23, 2020.