Latest update April 16th, 2026 12:40 AM
Corbin sees nothing wrong with call to abolish death penalty
The last execution in Guyana was actually a double-hanging in August 1997, when Mike Archer and Peter Adams were hanged for a fatal robbery attempt.
There are now 36 prisoners on Death Row, including two females.
Several countries called for Guyana to abolish the death penalty during the United Nations Periodic Review this week.
On December 18, 2008, Guyana had voted against United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149 calling for a global moratorium on executions.
Opposition Leader Robert Corbin said Friday, that on a personal level, he sees nothing wrong with the recommendation.
“Because historically, there has been a great deal of research in this matter, and it is shown that the death penalty has not really contributed to the reduction of the incidents of murder in various societies,” Corbin explained that the issues which have been raised, are issues which are worthy of discussion and action.
Although there have been no executions in Guyana since 1997, death sentences continue to be handed down by the courts.
At least two were handed down in 2009.
In Guyana, the death sentence is mandatory for convictions of murder. Murder and treason are recorded as capital crimes here.
In 2002 new legislation was enacted, including loosely defined terrorist acts that attract the capital punishment, which will automatically draw a death penalty in all cases in which a death results from such an act.
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