Granger’s prison pardons

Mar 21, 2016 Editorial

President David Granger’s prison release programme has come in for some criticism from various sections of the society. There is the view that once a person is sentenced by the courts then that person must spend every day of that sentence in prison.
No one can fault that argument—there is an adage, “If you do the crime, you must do the time.” And many have come to realize this. However, there are some who are victims of circumstances and who, upon release, are most unlikely to return to prison.
When asked about his programme, President Granger said that for one, he could only recommend the release of a certain number of prisoners. The identity of the prisoner is the responsibility of the Parole Board and the Minister of Public Security. These entities all take the human element into consideration.
There was Shireen Khan, a convicted murderer who died in jail. She had conspired with two men to rob a home and in the process, kill a young girl who was in the house at the time. Khan spent almost 30 years in jail, all the while begging to be released so that she could make up for lost time to be with her grandchildren whom she had never seen.
On every occasion her petition was denied; her crime was too gruesome for her release to be considered. Two men sentenced with her and should have faced the gallows are still in jail fighting to be released. These men have not been considered a part of President Granger’s package because they committed violent crimes.
It is the same with drug dealers. By no stretch of imagination would these be granted an amnesty or a Presidential pardon. They have committed a crime that should beg no pardon, although one must add that some of the most violent criminals have been pardoned.
In the first instance, many of them convicted killers who had their death warrants read to them have been taken off death row. These men are now petitioning to be released from prison, citing the length of time they have spent behind bars.
It is here that society seems to be divided. There are some who feel that the men have been incarcerated for an inordinately long time and since the death penalty was not carried out, should now be released. That is only one argument. The corollary is that these men should not be allowed to walk the streets again. Women are judged less harshly for obvious reasons. Their release on pardon passes almost unnoticed because the society does not see women as hardened criminals.
Yet we hasten to point to the case of convicted killer Evelyn Dick, called Evelyn Taylor. She killed one of her paramours and buried him in a shallow grave in the yard in which she lived. She was sentenced to death but she used her wiles to escape the gallows. While behind prison walls she contrived to become pregnant.
She was spared the gallows and subsequently released during the last administration. She is now dead.
Former President Donald Ramotar released a convicted child killer who was also sentenced to death. There was a hue and cry from a small section of the society. Many of those who protested are consistent. They are also protesting President Granger’s prison release programme. Should they protest the release?
Two schools of thought prevail. The humanitarian side argues that the released prisoner did not pose any threat to society, that they were languishing in an over-crowded prison system and in the case of some women, they still had a chance to rear their children along the proverbial straight and narrow.
The other school of thought is the harsh ‘do your time’ policy. In fact, such has been the proponents of the non-release programme that they actually spread the word that some of those released had returned to a life of crime. There was no truth in this but the rumour found favour in the political circles.
President Granger promises the release of those marginal criminals. However, the opponents are not backing down.

Latest News

Granger’s prison pardons

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

CWI’s Shallow, Bascombe circumspect amid two-tier Test system

Guyana to play Suriname, Grenada in “Nations...

Guyana Football Federation announces opening of...

West Indies unveil powerful 17-man squad for O50s...

Seven Regional Champions to vie for direct...

Kennard Memorial Turf Club expresses sincere...

Features/Columnists

The unconscionable terms of the PSA establish a case for renegotiation

Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves

Renegotiation – the latest Guyanese curse

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Granger’s prison pardons

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]