Call for the abolition of the death penalty

Oct 10, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
Today 10th October is World Day Against the Death Penalty. There are very good reasons for this day, three of which are as follows. First, the death penalty does not work.
There is no credible evidence that it is a deterrent. Second the death penalty is cruel – both in the manner of its execution which inevitably inflicts physical pain and in the wait on death row which inflicts mental anguish. Third the death penalty violates the right to life which is the most fundamental right of all.
As the rest of the world progresses towards abolition (140 countries now) we are concerned that Guyana is increasingly isolated. We are the only country in South America that has not abolished the death penalty for murder. In this Golden Jubilee of Independence, we see no reason to cling to what is nothing more than the vestige of a racist colonial justice system which abolished the death penalty in 1965 for the colonisers in Great Britain but left it intact for us the colonised people.
We are equally concerned that the present criminal justice system, which is based on retribution, does nothing for the victims, especially children who are most affected when a parent is murdered or sentenced to death.
We believe that the time has come to replace the death penalty with more effective and humane sanctions and to introduce some form of reparation and protection for the secondary victims. We realise that there are some people who are afraid to get rid of the death penalty. We feel that all concerned citizens should have the chance to express their views through a sensible process. We don’t believe that a referendum is the right method as this will divide the country unnecessarily.
We suggest instead that the National Assembly should set up a special select committee to consider draft legislation to replace the death penalty and help secondary victims. This process of deliberative democracy would allow reasoned discussion and offer an opportunity for building national consensus.
We totally support President Granger’s principled statement that he will not authorise any executions. We call on the Government of Guyana to honour this position and to vote in favour of the UN Moratorium on the death penalty in December.

David Hinds, Associate Professor, Arizona State University
Melinda Janki, Justice Institute Guyana
Rafiq Khan, Attorney-at-Law
Omattie Madray, Managing Director, Childlink Inc.
Paul Martin, Superior, Society of Jesus in Guyana
Danuta Radzik
Vanda Radzik
Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law
Nikhil Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law
Ralph Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law
Joel Simpson, Manager SASOD
Josephine Whitehead Attorney-at-Law

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