Tonga Law Society says the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Bill 2021 needs careful public consultation Featured
26 August 2021. The Tonga Law Society wishes to draw the attention of the public to the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Bill 2021 recently introduced for consideration by the Legislature as a private member’s bill by the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua.
The Bill makes a death sentence a mandatory penalty for offenders convicted of trafficking 5 kilograms or more of a class A drug.
While it is not disputed that serious measures must be taken to combat the rise of drug-related offenses in the Kingdom, the imposition of a mandatory death sentence is a matter which requires careful consideration and extensive public consultation.
This is particularly so in a nation founded on deeply held Christian beliefs.
The Tonga Law Society urgently calls upon the Speaker and the Legislature to give the people of Tonga every available opportunity to be heard on this serious issue before any further steps are taken to pass it into law.
 Bill 2021 needs careful public consultation "Pin It")