Commentary

Our laws need updating now

LAST FRIDAY THE WEEKEND STAR carried as its lead story an article about the use of obeah potions at court.

The story mentioned that these products, although illegal, are sold in pharmacies downtown. The story also stated the penalties associated with practising obeah.

Although there is a law against the practise of obeah THE STAR is of the view that the penalties for the offence brings to the fore something that is wrong with many of the laws on our books.

For one, many of these laws were passed years ago before we got independence and before our economy sank to this low.

Unfortunately, our lawmakers have not changed many of these laws to reflect our changing times. Hence, each time some of these laws come to public attention they are laughed at as being outdated.

What needs to be done and be completed soon is the updating of many of these laws to reflect the society in which we live today. To have a law that says someone can be flogged when such a practise has been outlawed is simply one of the ironies of the laws governing our country.

THE STAR hopes that the laws are changed to reflect our times sooner than later as such a move may save the country from future embarrassment.