CHIEF Magistrate Leonard Maina said parliament should review the entire Liquor Act (Chapter 133) than making only amendments to increase or convert the dollar value to unit value in fines.
He said this when sentencing two men who pleaded guilty of producing and drinking homebrew, in the Gizo Magistrates Court yesterday.
“It shows that parliament is only concerned with the revenue side it may collect than on the harmony and peace of the people,” Mr Maina said.
“As done by the Western Province, Parliament should create as an offence the consumption of illegally made liquor as well as creating as an offence the purchasers of liquor at the black markets.”
He said the Western Province Public Nuisance Ordinance 1991 creates as an offence the consumption of homebrew or kwaso in the province.
“It is very interesting as the (National Law) Liquor Act (Chapter 133) only prohibit the making of homebrew or kwaso or create the making as an offence, but not consumption of the homebrew or kwaso.”
Mr Maina said it fails to create as an offence consumption of liquor brewed without a written approval granted pursuant to section 53 of the Liquor Act (Cap. 133) or illegally.
He said it is common knowledge that homebrew or kwaso has caused a lot of problem to the communities every where in the country.
“ Every one of us within our powers or responsibilities must take steps to address this issue of Homebrew or kwaso.
“In all respect Western Province has now taken the lead in this issue in creating as an offence the consumption of illeagaly made liquor or Homebrew/kwaso.”
He said he hopes other provinces may soon follow to legislate within their power the laws which may assist to create harmony and peace in the communities.
Mr Maina added that it might be thought that the National Parliament has done its part with the recent passing of the Miscellaneous Penalties Amendment Act 2009.
“But this amendment does not assist to sort out the problem of homebrew neither kwaso nor it deters the makers of these illegal drinks.
“The liable of fine up to several thousand of dollars is not deterrence to the makers of homebrew or kwaso at all.”
By ASSUMPTA PIVA
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