Enforcement of death penalty not being ‘seriously considered’ – AG

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By Leroy Smith

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams says the enforcement of the death penalty is not something that is being seriously considered by the APNU+AFC government.

Some sections of society have been calling for the death penalty, which is enshrined in the constitution, to be enforced especially when there are cases of gruesome murders.

According to Williams, the death penalty is something that most countries in other parts of the world are looking to abolish and he does not see Guyana moving in the opposite direction.

Guyana last executed a death row prisoner in 1997. Over the last few years human rights groups and other bodies have been lobbying Guyana to abolish several antiquated laws, including buggery.

The number of countries executing prisoners is on the decline, but still thousands remain on death row, often in appalling conditions and without access to legal services. The United Nations (UN) has said that the death penalty has no place in the 21st century.

Guyana has approximately 30 persons on death row.

 

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6 COMMENTS

  1. This will not be passed by the privy council so it is dead in the water. Unfortunately as a deterent it no longer works… And you need to be 101% sure the person committed did the crime

  2. They should enforce the death penalty. Make a few examples of people the others will get the message.

  3. The AG is obviously speaking as a lawyer who is aufait with current trends but the evidence does not support the claims that third world can actually cope with the cost of adopting first world practice.
    When Saddam was hung not one criticism was mounted by first world to third world. It is my believe that such a system has to be adopted in the context of available resources.
    Guyana like so many countries simply does not have the resources to deal with these types of eventualities.
    What is the cost to keep a death row inmate in the states care?
    Put numbers to these and you will see the enormous drain on the resources of a nation.The money spent on one death row inmate deprives the training of maybe two or three doctors and educators scientist.
    What do you prefer Guyana?? I am watching.

  4. The bastion of freedom and democracy the USA, has executed more than any country in the Western World. Many countries which are heavily supported by the USA and other countries in Europe, example Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, have executed many in recent times. The US in particular gives only lip service to those on the death row in other countries and remain tight lipped on those in many States within the US. Why should Guyana be listening to other countries or follow pattern? This will only encourage more serious criminal activities. Those who KILL need no clemency as they showed no mercy to their victims when they committed the heinous act. Perhaps the Guyana government could look at Jamaica.

  5. this death penalty thing should have long been wiped off the constitution many moons ago ..pnc politicians might end up hanging an innocent person just to prove how tough pnc can be on criminals to win hearts minds votes…

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