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Let foreigners serve their sentences in their home-country
Dear Editor,
I reference your report “St. Lucian cocaine mules jailed” of November 20th 2015.
Some matters have crossed my mind in situations where the offender is not a Guyanese, but is sentenced to imprisonment in Guyana for fairly lengthy periods.
Is it fair to sentence such persons to lengthy time in the Guyana prisons? (noted for their inhospitable and inhuman conditions)
Does such sentencing serve any purpose as regards good order and behaviour in the Guyanese society? Does the Government of Guyana liaise with countries of such persons?
Are there any mutual exchange prisoner agreements with the countries of such prisoners?
What is the purpose of levying fines on persons convicted of drug offences especially when they are not Guyanese nationals?
Is such action sensible? And what happens if the fine is not paid?
And why is there no system to reduce the period of incarceration for prisoners who are ‘model prisoners’?
I hold no briefs for these two convicted persons but the trial and convictions as well as the sentencing all seem to be draconian in a world where drugs are the norm and ‘muling’ is a daily practice. In this case there are many other matters involved such as the business of one individual, the children and relatives of both individuals and the prison isolations concurrent with inhospitalities. As well, the costs of care and maintenance for such an extended period.
Does not look good for a government of and for the people. To my mind official actions should be
1. Temporary jail holding while deportation action is finalized
2. Deportation to their native land
3. Permanent banning from ever being admitted to Guyana
4. Sending official trial and judgement transcripts to the government of the country of residence of the convicts for them to decide on whatever action they feel necessary
5. Public information release on the actions taken
5. Pursuing a system of mutual prisoner exchange for future application.
I see no beneficial purposes to the Guyanese society for holding such foreign convicts in Guyanese prisons.
Send them back.
Carl Veecock
Markham, Ontario
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