00:00Independent Senator Francis Lewis referred to the government's refusal to accept any amendments from the independent senators
00:07as he contributed to the Senate's marathon debate of the bill to raise the minimum legal age for gambling and
00:14the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis.
00:18And I speak here for myself, but I suspect others may echo it.
00:21I do not come with clenched fists. I come with open palms.
00:25I'm willing to argue, debate and try to work it out.
00:30And there's enough brainpower, I'd like to think, that collectively, collegiately, we can contribute and work with all of the
00:39members of this House
00:40in whatever structure we use, whether it's Senate or joint select committees or otherwise.
00:46Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Arts specifically requested the bill go before what she called an appropriately constituted joint select committee.
00:56Referral could strengthen the bill by allowing the committee to hear from the institutions and people who will have to
01:04make it work.
01:05The retailers, the promoters, the health professionals, licensing authorities, enforcement agencies, parents and of course the young people likely to
01:17be affected by this bill.
01:19Defense Minister Wayne Sturge defended the government's position.
01:22The rich man can drink Johnny Walker Blue every day, get his alcohol poisoning, go in pressure and die.
01:30The rest of us are not affected.
01:32The health care system is not affected.
01:34He can smoke his coke.
01:37He can do whatever.
01:39No one is affected.
01:40The young person in Grandy who drinks his punching has, engages in lasciviousness, impregnates two or three women from the
01:52area.
01:53Can't mind any of them.
01:56Do you know what the cycle is?
01:59The PNM loves that.
02:00The cycle is more PNM voters.
02:02Opposition Senator Foster Cummings later rejected such sentiments.
02:06If we think it's only young people in Belmont, Lavantel and La Hocketer, as the minister said, that consuming alcohol
02:13before the age of 21,
02:15well then we could take a drive down to Barraco and Penal and we meet young people down there doing
02:19the same thing.
02:20It is a national problem, not restricted to so-called PNM areas.
02:29And therefore there is no harm in giving a little more time when you are working or introducing some important
02:37legislation.
02:38It must not come like a thief in the night.
02:41When Attorney General John Jeremy wound up the Senate's debate, he defended the public servants who worked on the legislation.
02:47They are the drafters, they are the experts, they are trained experts, their drafting skill must be recognized and respected
02:59by us.
03:03During a division vote, all 15 government senators voted in favor of the bill.
03:08All six opposition senators voted against it.
03:10And then there were the votes of the nine independent senators.
03:14Mr. Vera, I see?
03:16No.
03:18Ms. Chota, I see?
03:19No.
03:20Dr. Arts?
03:21I abstain.
03:24Mr. Dilaba, I see?
03:25No.
03:28Ms. June Simmons?
03:29No.
03:31Mr. Lewis?
03:32I abstain.
03:34Dr. Marie?
03:35No.
03:38Mrs. Lalite-Etienne?
03:40I abstain.
03:43Ms. Phillips?
03:45No.
03:45On this occasion, Senate President Wade Mark did not have to use his casting vote for the late-night passage
03:52of the 2026 miscellaneous provisions, alcohol, cannabis, dangerous drugs, gambling, and tobacco bill.
03:59Jewell.
04:00Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
04:02Now,
04:06c Kunz,
