By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley, on Thursday 18th April 2024, laid on the table a Constitutional Instrument No. 7 of 2024 relating to Kush and other harmful drugs in the House of Parliament. The Drug and Substances Abuse Public Emergency Response Regulations 2024 has been approved on Tuesday 23rd April 2024.
The president declared national emergency on drugs and substance abuse epidemic that has killed hundreds, if not thousands of young people in Sierra Leone. The Drug and Substances Abuse Public Emergency Response Regulations 2024, was debated in the House of Parliament and MPs give their candid opinions.
The leader of Government Business, Hon. Sahr Nyuma, started his submission by saying drugs have to be stopped as it is affecting the development of society. He stated that, the government is doing marvellously well in establishing treatment and rehabilitation centres. The leader also applauded the opposition for their support and called on all to eradicate harmful drugs particularly ‘kush’. He clearly stated that, the regulations of the national emergency are vital for the implementation of the proclamation by the president. “We don’t want people to misuse the national health emergency,” he said.
In his submission Hon. Dr. Unpha Sorie Gbassay Koroma said, They are all vulnerable to the ‘kush’ attack and most of their kids are affected. He added that, before the Drug and Substances Abuse Public Emergency Response Regulations 2024, there were other existing laws. “Don’t leave behind the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, and also the opposition behind because there should be a national face in the fight,” he emphasized. He noted that, relevant infrastructure needed in the fight just as it was in the fight against Ebola.
According to Hon. Osman Abdel Timbo Western Urban, he was very much disappointed that, it was only when the issue of mass burial brought up before Mbs took action in the fight against ‘kush’. He stated clearly that, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act 2008, and the Pharmacy Act 2008 all have provisions for punishing those engaged in dealing and taking of harmful drugs. “They should have empowered these laws instead of setting new regulations,” he said. He went further to ask a critical question “what is ‘kush’,” he asked. He said, he is still yet to have the real definition of ‘kush’ and therefore urged medical experts to come up with a definition of a ‘kush’ so that those caught with it should not go free as a result of cleaver defence lawyers using other terms instead of ‘kush’.
After the approval the National Health Emergency proclamation made by the president, Parliament has taken crucial step in protecting the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Sierra Leone, and demonstrating full commitment in the fight against drug abuse particularly ‘kush’. The National Health Emergency will last for 12 months and subject to scrutiny within 90 days since its enactment.
