KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC):

A senior economics lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, has suggested that medical marijuana could be one of the new industries capitalised on by St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Speaking at the launch the National Development Plan here, Claremont Kirton said more needed to be explored into the area of the medical usages of the illegal drug.

"This is the kind of research that is needed where commodities we have at our disposal can become part of our new economic base," Kirton said, adding that marijuana had already been used in the development of treatments for glaucoma.

Validity of official statistical data

He also questioned the validity of official statistical data, which he said captured only formal economic activity, stating that the Caribbean had a huge informal economy that included illegal industries.

"Could you imagine a country like Jamaica which has recorded negative economic growth yet Mercedes Benz and Lexus cars are all over and there has been no major economy triggered riot," he asked.

He said while the official statements suggested a bad economy, informal economic activities, including the illegal ones, continued to flourish.

Kirton told those gathered that they also needed to look into the possibility of revising old industries which, even though they may have ran their courses before, opportunities might exist for their revival, even if it was on a reduced capacity and significance in the scheme of things.

"This type of examination has to form part of the forward thinking even as new industries are explored," the academic said.