Back-of-town MP Ashfield DeVent yesterday called for a full-scale House of Assembly debate on Bermuda's drugs laws as he implored politicians to think outside the box on tackling gun violence.

Mr. DeVent believes decriminalising illegal drugs — making them available to addicts via Government — could drastically reduce profits of the underground trade and make a big dent in gang activity.

And the Pembroke South East MP — who says he's tired of political colleagues ignoring his warnings about increasing drug abuse and its impact on society — says he would consider tabling a private member's bill if MPs are prepared to break their silence and debate the issue.

Police yesterday revealed they seized $8.7 million worth of cannabis, $2.5 million of heroin and $1.5 million of cocaine in ports and on the streets during 2009.

However, they argued decriminalisation would likely fail on its own because the Island's shootings are based more on personal vendettas and rivalries than drugs.

Since being elected to the House in 2002, the Progressive Labour Party MP has repeatedly pointed to worsening problems in his constituency, culminating in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old James (Junior) Lawes outside Place's Place earlier this month.

He dismisses peace marches as a waste of time and says potential other solutions include a revamp of the Island's drugs laws or making Westgate a tougher experience for offenders.

"My recent call for people to stamp out the march mindset is a call to see something more constructive to address the problem," Mr. DeVent told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"I believe much of this violence somehow is connected to the illegal drug trade. Gangs didn't form to play bridge; they didn't form to discuss the origins of mankind. They got together to protect generally illegal activity.

"We need at some point an open and honest debate, a way forward on a change in how we view our drug legislation, like I have spoken to in the past and generally nobody wants to discuss it.

"I have called for us to take a look at some of the more progressive countries which have rethought this so-called 'war on drugs' with a view to taking the profit out of the drug market.

"The argument is that you allow Government to provide the drugs to certified addicts, so that they don't buy them from the streets.

"At least let's sit down and look at it with an open mind. I have asked them to consider cannabis. I venture to bet thousands of people in this Country, from the top to the bottom, use cannabis on a regular basis. Right away, you have thousands of people who are criminals only because of that fact.

"We are still prosecuting people for possession of minute amounts of cannabis and that potentially gets people on a stop list. We are paying people to help get over that.

"Even if we looked at and compared laws with most of the States in the US, you have to have a substantial amount more on you before they even bother to prosecute."

Four years ago, former PLP MP Renee Webb's private member's bill outlawing discrimination against homosexuals was thrown out after both sides of the House refused to debate it.

Mr. DeVent reflected yesterday: "I certainly don't want to use the private member's bill option without a certain amount of support. I'm not going to go gung-ho without some assurance that some people are at least going to speak about it."

He openly admits he smoked marijuana in his younger days, but gave up long before he became a politician and has likened drug pushers to the modern day equivalent of Africans selling their friends into slavery.

But he believes some parliamentarians suspect he continues to use drugs because he has dreadlocks and has called for decriminalisation of cannabis for many years.

"Some people think, because of my appearance, that I'm this big pothead in favour of drugs," he said. "I don't encourage anyone to get into drugs — I know what crack and coke can do.

"I became an MP in 2002. Prior to that, as a talk show caller and host, I have been repeating this call for a serious rethink.

"I still believe we have a disproportionate amount of users compared to other countries. My observation is that Bermuda is a place were people love to alter their mindset and get high.

"There's a huge amount of money involved in this. That leaves me and other people to question, sometimes, are there certain quarters in this Country that aren't even interested? A lot of money in the economy is a result of the drugs trade."

Bermuda Police Superintendent Antoine Daniels said yesterday: "Obviously, gangs and drugs are linked, but the violence is not because of the drugs; it's based on personal rivalries.

"If we remove all drugs from Bermuda we will still have the problems we have. It's not based on drugs; it's the breakdown in our social system. I don't think the be-all and end-all is drugs."

What do you think? E-mail tsmith@royalgazette.bm.