PM says he supports death penalty

“My mother is against the death penalty. My Lord Bishop is against the death penalty.”

Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves told Vincentians on Monday, August 18, 2008, he holds a different opinion to these two key persons in his life.{{more}}

“I support the death penalty for murder,” said Dr.Gonsalves at a press conference on Monday.

In the wake of the brutal slaying of lawyer Bertram Stapleton, calls for the death penalty have intensified. Stapleton was gunned down on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, in Kingstown, while on his way to work.

“I happen to have a different opinion to them. Good and decent people can disagree on this issue,” said the Prime Minister.

Dr.Gonsalves said, in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, the vast majority of people support the death penalty for murder, and certainly for the serious types of murders.

Prime Minister Gonsalves said he has asked the Constitutional Reform Steering Committee to have a formulation in the reformed Constitution to make it more difficult for Judges to make laws from the Bench in relation to the Death Penalty.

Dr.Gonsalves said he would like to see the Constitutional Provisions relating to the death penalty tightened so that they cannot be affected by judge made law. (HN)