Officials in Bermuda have slammed the ‘confines of their constitutional relationship with the UK government’ recently after they decided to intervene in the legalisation of cannabis is Bermuda. The move made by the UK may now cause a constitutional crisis that could ruin relations with a British Overseas Territory during Liz Truss’s first week in office.
Ms Truss vowed from the steps of Downing Street to “stand up for the freedom and democracy around the world” yet Bermudian officials in the self-governing British territory were recently informed that a Cannabis Licensing Bill that would have legalised the sale of cannabis will not be permitted to become law.
Bermuda’s UK appointed Governor and civil servant Rena Lalgie usually gives assent to laws on behalf of the Queen, most of the time serving little more than just a rubber-stamp for legalisation. However in a recent statement she had to unfortunately say that “I have now received an instruction, issued to me on Her Majesty’s behalf, not to assent to the bill as drafted”.
The statement also added that “the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs had concluded that the Bill, as currently drafted, is not consistent with obligations held by the UK and Bemuda under international anti-drug conventions dating back to 1961.
It is suspected that this decision was made my Ms Truss herself, who remained in her position as Foreign Secretary until she became the new UK Prime Minister, rather than by the newly appointed Foreign Secretary James Cleaverly.
The decision has come as a huge blow to Bermuda, sparking anger and calls for independence from Britain. Responding on behalf of the Bermudian government, the attorney general Kathy Lynn Simmons said the move was “disappointing, but not surprising, given the confines of our constitutional relationship with the UK government and their archaic interpretation of the narcotic conventions”.
The politician vowed to continue with the measure, putting Bermuda on a collision course with the UK, adding that “The people of Bermuda have democratically expressed their desire for a regulated cannabis licensing regime, following the strong endorsement at the ballot box and an extensive public consultation process.”
“The Government of Bermuda intends to continue to advance this initiative, within the full scope of its constitutional powers, in keeping with our 2020 general election platform commitment”.
Bermudian premier David Burt is yet to respond to the news, but previously stated that “If Her Majesty’s representative in Bermuda does not give assent to something that has been passed lawfully and legally under this local government, this will destroy the relationship we had with the UK.”
Bermuda’s opposition party have previously accused the Labour Party of using the issue as a “smokescreen” to push for independence.
British Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Overseas Territories, was among those to accuse the Foreign Office of hypocrisy. He stated “One of the last acts of Liz Truss at the Foreign Office has been to politicise the Queen by forcing the Governor of Bermuda to not give assent to a bill that would have legalised recreational cannabis. This was a perfectly legitimate law, which had public support and should not have been struck down in this way.”
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said “Bermuda’s proposed cannabis licensing bill is not consistent with the UK or the territory’s international obligations.”