00:00A $50,000 fine for a teenager caught with a bear.
00:05It's one of the concerns raised over the government's proposed miscellaneous provisions bill,
00:10which seeks to increase the legal age for alcohol and tobacco consumption to 21 and cannabis and gambling to 25.
00:20But Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissasa defends the government position, saying the maximum fines are not compulsory.
00:28In response to questions posed by TV6 about the potential burden on impoverished families,
00:34she pointed to alternative measures available under the legislation.
00:39She said, quote,
00:40The bill provides for community service, counselling, rehabilitation and reprimand as alternatives.
00:47The fine is not compulsory. The magistrate will decide using his or her discretion, end quote.
00:54The opposition has accused the government of pushing the legislation through without adequate consultation,
01:01while industry bodies, including the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association and the T&T Beverage Alliance,
01:08have called for engagement.
01:10The concerns center not only on the proposed age limits,
01:14but also on the severity of the penalties and the broader implications of the legislation.
01:20The Prime Minister's response, however, focused on the discretion available to magistrates,
01:26rather than addressing directly whether government considers the consultation process sufficient.
01:32Meanwhile, Passat-Bissasa is blaming the prevalence of domestic violence,
01:36in part on what she describes as a culture of unhealthy behavior and lawlessness.
01:43Her comments come after two domestic violence cases enter the public domain on the same day.
01:50She tells TV6, quote,
01:52There are many cases of domestic violence every day,
01:55which goes both directions, where both men and women are aggressors, end quote.
02:02Passat-Bissasa argued that aspects of the country's social culture contribute to the problem,
02:08pointing to what she described as the celebration of negative habits and unhealthy vices.
02:14She says, quote,
02:15We promote behaviors that create the emotional conditions for domestic violence to thrive,
02:21and until we understand as a society that we need to change our ways,
02:26it will only get worse.
02:28Like it or not, it's the truth, end quote.
02:31Her comments place emphasis on broader societal behavior
02:34and personal responsibility as part of the discussion around domestic violence.
02:39Arvishit Mwari, Rupnarain, TV6 News.
