KINGSTON — Minister of National Security Peter Bunting has instructed a review of the approach which sees the police arresting citizens for small quantities of marijuana.
“[Justice] Minister Mark Golding and I, have requested the Attorney General to research the law to see whether, pending an amendment to the law, we can make it the policy of the Police to proceed by way of summons in these cases (possession of small quantities of ganja) rather than by way of arrest and detention,” Bunting said in statement in relation to the recent death of a man held in police custody for ganja possession.
“This would be consistent with the stated policy direction of the government and help to address the issue of overcrowding in our lockups, while reducing the administrative burden to deal with these cases.”
Bunting said that he viewed with grave concern, reports of the death of Mario Deane, an inmate of the Barnett Street Police Station in St James, succumbing to injuries received while in police custody.
According to the police, Deane, who was charged for possession of a small quantity of marijuana, was attacked by fellow inmates on August 3, and succumbed to his injuries at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, yesterday, August 6.
Bunting said that while the matter is being investigated by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the police, he is requesting that the Acting Commissioner of Police immediately examine the arrangements for supervising detainees, to ensure the safety of those in the custody of the state. (Observer)
