Published on 07-Mar-10

Kingston -- March 7, 2010 -- This report is the Government of Jamaica's response to the findings of the United States Department of State, 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report on Drug and Chemical Control, INCSR. The statements in that report do not accurately represent the efforts being made by the security forces and the Jamaican authorities in the fight against international drug trafficking and organized crime.

Government looking at plethora of solutions

Kingston -- March 7, 2010 -- Mr. President, On March 1, 2009 the United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law released its report on drug and chemical control for a number of countries. In the instance of Jamaica the report makes a number of observations on pages 375 – 378. The Prime Minister in the other House has spoken extensively on the matters relating to extradition requests by the United States of America. I will now speak, Mr. President, on a number of other observations made in the report.

Background
This report is the Government of Jamaica’s response to the findings of the United States Department of State, 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report on Drug and Chemical Control, INCSR. The statements in that report do not accurately represent the efforts being made by the security forces and the Jamaican authorities in the fight against international drug trafficking and organized crime.

Introduction
Drug control in Jamaica falls within the purview of the Ministries of Health and National Security. The Ministry of Health has control over pharmaceutical drugs, psychotropic substances and amphetamine type stimulants as well as precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of the said psychotropic substances as well as cocaine and the opiates (heroin, morphine, opium and codeine). The Ministry of Health also bears responsibility for demand reduction which includes public education, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration.

The Ministry of National Security has responsibility for controlling supply reduction which includes limiting or eradicating the cultivation of ganja, production, transportation and trafficking of both ganja and hard drugs in and out of Jamaica. The Ministry of Finance plays a pivotal role in drug control, with Customs being the first line of law enforcement. In addition, The Financial Investigative Division (FID) of that Ministry is responsible for enforcing laws relating to money laundering.

Jamaica has signed and ratified the following international agreements:

The United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and the 1972 Protocol amending it.

The United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971

The United Nations Convention Against the Illicit Manufacture and Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988

The United Nations Convention on Corruption, 2003

The United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Supplementing Protocols, 2000

The Drug Strategy in the Hemisphere, 1996.

The Dangerous Drugs Act remains the central piece of legislation under which persons can be convicted for use, possession of, dealing in and preparing to export illegal drugs. Those drugs classified as psychotropic and which are controlled internationally under the 1971 Convention are sanctioned under the Food and Drug Act. Throughout the years, Jamaica’s drug control efforts have benefitted tremendously from assistance provided by the Government of the United States of America.

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