Matthew Wale questions Dangerous Drugs Act gaps on meth amendments, urges stronger policing and reforms.
LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has raised concerns about gaps in the proposed amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act relating to methamphetamine offenders.
Wale expressed his dissatisfaction when the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) appeared before the Bills & Legislations Committee (BLC).
The Opposition Leader said he is concerned that the amended rules are too narrowly focused on methamphetamine.
“What happens when it is slightly altered and not strictly meth and they call it something new? We name meth specifically but these people have labs that could alter meth and change its name and it becomes another problem for us. Will this be another gap and people will be able to walk free again?” Wale questioned.
RSIPF executives who appeared before the BLC acknowledged that currently only methamphetamine is specifically listed, and that any altered substance could create legal complications.
Wale questioned why this issue was not addressed during consultations prior to drafting the amendments.
“Any other alteration to meth will become a problem for us. This is something police and health must seriously consider. The rules needed flexibility to anticipate such possibilities in future,” he said.
He further questioned whether the matter had been considered and, if so, why it was not incorporated into the proposed changes. Wale stated that police, as the lead law enforcement agency on illicit drugs, should guide policy consultations on the issue.
“Surely the police could have an opinion,” he said.
Wale urged police and relevant authorities to refine the legislation to ensure it is flexible enough to cover future variations of methamphetamine.
“It is a serious problem and I am sensing authorities are not serious enough,” he said.
The BLC was informed that the first reported methamphetamine case in the Solomon Islands occurred in 2016 and that the drug has since spread to communities and provinces. The RSIPF told the Committee that the country is now at the centre of the meth problem.
Wale called on police to strengthen cooperation with security partners Australia and China to adopt a more robust and zero-tolerance approach.
He also urged the Government to prioritise adequate resourcing for police and other law enforcement agencies.
Wale described it as unsatisfactory that police had not yet responded to a narco-sub reportedly located in Makira in December last year.
“Our biggest challenge is the first response we should undertake to stop these subs getting into our waters and it needs serious regional cooperation,” he said.
He added that police require maximum powers to address drug-related crimes involving both foreign nationals and locals.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION Press Release
