Attorney General, Patrick Atkinson, says he hopes to give his advice to Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding today, on whether a policy can be implemented barring the police from detaining persons held with small amounts of ganja, such as a spliff.
The Justice Minister last week asked the Attorney General whether such a policy decision could be made until legislation is passed allowing for such decriminalization.
The move to prevent the police from locking up persons held with small amounts of ganja, is supported by the parliamentary opposition.
It follows the beating death of St. James resident, 31-year-old Mario Deane, who was detained at the Barnettt Street lock-up in the parish last week Sunday.
He died last Wednesday, three days after he was taken to hospital having suffered a severe beating while in custody.
Whether the police or fellow detainees administered the beating is now the subject of an investigation although two civilians have since been charged.
Pressure is mounting on the administration to act.
Mr. Deane’s death has also triggered reaction from National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, and sections of civil society.
There’ve also been demonstrations in his hometown of Rosemount, St. James.
Both Ministers Golding and Bunting, had sought legal advice from Mr. Atkinson on whether to relax the bail conditions for persons arrested for small quantities of ganja.
It’s an offense for which a Magistrate would typically fine an offender 100-dollars per ounce or part thereof.
Minister Golding has been drafting legislation to decriminalize such small quantities of the weed.
The AG has been asked to decide whether summonses could be issued to persons to attend court instead of taking them into custody
When Mario Deane was picked up by the police for possessing a ganja spliff last week Sunday, he was offered bail that same morning.
He did not live to take up the bail offer as he died the same day the country celebrated its 52nd anniversary of Independence.
The Attorney General says he hopes to make known his opinion later today on what could be a landmark decision.
Cecil Thoms, for Nationwide News.
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