In the Executive Council’s meeting on July 16, the Attorney General, Mr. Dwight Horsford, informed the Cabinet of the newly-elected Anguilla Progressive Movement Government about a number of pieces of pressing legislation now under consideration by his Chambers.
He outlined the proposed Justice Reform draft legislation as being:
• The Recording of Court Proceedings Bill
• Court of Justice Fees Amendment Bill
• Financial Intelligence Unit Bill
• Evidence Bill
• Vulnerable Witness Bill
• Bail Bill
• Magistrate’s Code of Procedure Amendment Bill
• Supreme Court Amendment Bill.
The Attorney General invited the Ministers of Government to consider holding a retreat to identify and agree on what legislation they would wish to accelerate; what would be put on hold; and what additional pieces they deem necessary for discussion.
During the election campaign, the Anguilla Progressive Movement spoke about some of the legislation it proposed to introduce both in the Executive Council and the Legislature. One of the bills it mentioned related to the decriminalising of small amounts of marijuana and the removal of records against young people charged with the use of the drug.
Premier, Leader of Government Business (and Physician), Dr. Ellis Webster, gave his administration’s plans on a number of issues in a Radio Anguilla interview this week.
“We had a legislative retreat [on Monday, July 28] with the Attorney General and his Chambers, to discuss drafting and their legislative agenda,” he disclosed. “It allowed us to see what their agenda was and we also then submitted what we thought were our priorities.”
He outlined those priorities as including:
- The decriminalisation of marijuana and expunging of the records of young people, specific to marijuana
- Legislation for the medical use of cannabis and the different oils
- Child Protection Bills
- Renewable energy Legislation
- Reviewing some of the draft bills that were found to make sure that the Government can move forward with its plans for expanding the fisheries industry.
“We know that it takes time for the policies we have to make them into draft legislation,” he stated. “Maybe we will push the Attorney General’s Chambers to make sure that we get that done, once we have our drafting instructions. Certainly, it is going to be a very active legislative period coming up within the next four to six months.”
It is to be noted that there was draft legislation done by the previous Attorney General in Anguilla in connection with the decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana, and other related matters. The legislation was taken before the House of Assembly but was postponed. Nothing further was heard about it.
