Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis – Dr Terrance Drew, addressed several important public interest matters in a recent radio interview held yesterday, June 29, 2023 (Thursday), from 1:30 pm to 3 pm.
Prime Minister updated the residents and citizens of Twin Island Federation on challenges, issues, and national concerns under the federal government’s consideration.
In his opening remarks during the radio broadcast, Prime Minister extended his heartfelt greetings to his fellow Kittians and Nevisians. He called all the people to shift their focus on essential public matters while updating them on the same through Freedom FM 105.6.
In addition, he said that “I want to thank the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis for taking time to tune in to this program. I will never take their time for granted”.
In addition, while answering the radio program host Jamie Mc Phail on such transformative reforms and essential pieces of legislation introduced by his government in less than a year, PM said that “We have a robust agenda when it comes to the legislative arm, I want to thank AG and his office for stepping up to the occasion and making sure that the agenda is rightfully pursued.”
He added that the government of St Kitts and Nevis had passed over 20 (twenty) legislations. In this context, Prime Minister also said that “Among the 20 passed legislations, the ones that would resonate for a long time is vaccine issues that were on the table and not being addressed”.
He further mentioned that the good governance agenda and those laws were passed to deal with this agenda. He stated that such an issue had been discussed since 2015 over and over again as it has been one of the major issues among them.
Furthermore, he recalled that the past governments should have shifted their focus on this issue to resolve it for the past seven years, even after campaigning heavily for the same.
“They had no reason not to do it, not one of those things over which they had no control of limited control. As a matter of fact, they had full control while having the opportunity to pass the good governance agenda”, said the Prime Minister.
Moreover, he expressed his pride while mentioning that the good governance agenda was finally passed into law. PM Drew then commented on the important pieces of legislation passed by the St Kitts and Nevis Government.
He stated that the government has been focusing on various reforms, including the Cannabis and Rastafarian bills. It was outlined that the bills hold immense importance to the nation and its government.
PM Drew extended his remarks and noted that the Rastafarian is to be seen as a religion in the country. He added that it had not been called a religion in such a community, which is why it is known as Ecclesiastes Affairs (A faith-based organization).
“The Rastafarians don’t refer to themselves as a religion but a way of life”, he said. In this regard, he stressed that as per the structure and system, it would be inserted wisely.
Additionally, Prime Minister emphasized that for a long time, the Rastafarian community has been discriminated heavily against for no other reason than the way they choose to live and the god they choose to serve. “In a democratic country, you don’t dictate to people how to live their lives; they have the right to determine how they want to live their lives”, added PM Drew.
It was also noted that the Prime Minister apologized to the Rastafarians for delaying serving their rights by passing the Rastafarian Right Recognition Bill 2023 during the recently held National Assembly Sitting on June 20. He condemned the discrimination they had to face for a long time as there was no basis on which it was fair to them.
During his address, PM Drew stated that if we criticize the racism and other incidents happing with black people in countries like USA and France, and on the other hand, we are doing the same thing with our people is like demonizing our own.
“We are maturing and advancing as a government and a nation”, he noted. He said the Rastafarian community must be provided with all the constitutional rights and given every equal opportunity.
The PM said he spoke to some elated Jamaican MPs who asked him about the amendments regarding the Rastafarian rights. During his conversation, he learned that the birthplace of Rastafarians has yet to introduce this change.
He continued that this might be the beginning of the trend in the Caribbean. “The Rastafarians are seen completely differently under the law as they were seen a few weeks ago”, he said while concluding the topic.
While mentioning the Cannabis Bill, Prime Minister Terrance Drew applauded the government’s efforts and stated that we were very responsible for how we pursued it.
He stated that there is a strong campaign from the AGs office about educating people with respect to the passed bill. “This bill includes protective measures for children, susceptible and people at large”, he noted.
It was stressed that there is a dedicated area for smoking, and people should not smoke in public. He said that public smoking is wrong as other people should have the right whether they want to get exposed to it or not.
He responded that the people who want to smoke could go to dedicated areas for smoking and wouldn’t be forced to be exposed to it. He said both people’s choices should get respect through which both can exist.
In the end, Prime Minister Terrance Drew recalled his words with the Commissioner of Police of St Kitts and Nevis, where he was briefed that dedicated smoking areas have been built for Cannabis. By which both categories can co-exist with harmony and togetherness.
The government of St Kitts and Nevis has delivered the facilities and reforms essential for the public interest matters among the passed legislations, said the Prime Minister Terrance Drew.
