Defence Minister Wayne Sturge has defended the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, 2026, arguing that the legislation reflects the realities facing vulnerable communities and young people.
Speaking during Tuesday’s Senate debate, he rejected comparisons between the legal age for alcohol consumption and the age requirements for voting, obtaining a driver’s licence and joining the protective services.
“All of these things, voting is a positive thing, joining the military is a positive thing, joining the police is a positive thing, Getting your license is a positive thing. Is drinking punching a positive thing?”
Using examples from communities across the country, Minister Sturge argued that the legislation seeks to address the realities facing young people who are exposed to alcohol, cannabis and other substances from an early age.
“Go on the streets, go on the ghettos in Belmont, in Sangre Grande, in Sealots, and all of these places. Nobody drinks beer. They drink puncheon. They smoke weed. And not just weed, weed, in most cases, laced with something, some other chemical. Most times cocaine, which they call black cigarettes.”