PORT-OF-SPAIN – The death penalty by hanging is the law of the land and the People’s Partnership Government will abide by that law, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said.
She added that at present, Government was looking at the categorisation of murders and the degree of murders, as well as the number of people on Death Row who are scheduled to be hanged and those who had been there for over five years.
Persad-Bissessar was speaking at the post-Cabinet Press conference at the Coco Reef Hotel in Tobago, where she expressed regret that the issue of the death penalty was being debated by members inside and outside the Cabinet.
On Wednesday, Justice minister Herbert Volney became the latest Minister to speak on the issue, saying hangings should take place in public so the people would have fear of the law and for God.
“I have seen this issue is being debated in the media by persons in the Cabinet and outside the Cabinet, which is regrettable. The decision has to be a collective one of the Cabinet and should be discussed by the Cabinet and shared with the national community,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“That being said, it is the law of the land and therefore I do not understand the debate if the law is on our statute books. We will act according to the rule of law.
“There is nothing wrong with people having personal views on issues, but at the end of the day it is the collective view that is the important one.”
She said just because people in the Partnership had differing views on the death penalty, it did not mean that there was a divide in the party.
“I want to give the assurance, I have absolutely no reason to believe that there is any crack, or split . . . up of the People’s Partnership Government.” (Trinidad Express.)
