Guyana, as a matter of policy, must restore the death penalty

Jan 19, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, January 10, 2017, an unrepentant Dylann Roof was sentenced to death for killing nine black church members during Bible study, the first person to face execution for federal hate crime convictions. A jury deliberated his sentence for about three hours, capping a trial in which the white man did not fight for his life or show any remorse. He was his own attorney during sentencing and insisted that he wasn’t mentally ill, but he never asked for forgiveness or mercy, or explained the crime.
Editor, months before Mr. Roof was tried and sentenced to death, the families of the deceased did not want Mr. Roof to be put to death. This was due to their religious beliefs and opposition to capital punishment. However, editor, this case was not only about what the deceased families wanted, but more importantly, it was about justice and a just punishment; not just for some people, but for all people. In the end, justice prevailed.
Despite President Obama not being a strong advocate for the death penalty, he wanted the death penalty for Mr. Roof. For example, even though Mr. Roof’s attorney offered to plead guilty to life in prison, the US Attorney General rejected the offer and sought the death penalty. One of her arguments for the death penalty was that she was afraid that if Mr. Roof didn’t get the death penalty for killing nine people it would set a bad legal precedent. She argued that if you don’t give the death penalty to Mr. Roof for killing nine people, it would be hard to put someone to death for killing only one person. Here is the Attorney General’s statement:
”Following the department’s rigorous review process to thoroughly consider all relevant factual and legal issues, I have determined that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty.” (New York Times May 24, 2016). Editor, why is justice in our land such an injustice to victims? How do we in Guyana juxtapose Mr. Roof being given the death penalty for killing nine people and yet, we have people in Guyana who killed many more people than Mr. Roof and not one of the killers who have been found guilty have been given the death penalty.
Editor, the people of Guyana can never receive true justice because they are living in a developing country and in developing countries the presidents do not have the authority to enforce the death penalty without groups like the donor governments withholding financial aid. Our own president, Mr. Granger will not dare risk losing financial support from the donor governments by enforcing capital punishment laws.
Editor, the difference between justice in developing and developed countries is money. Money rules the developing countries. Money supersedes justice. In developing countries, whoever pays the piper calls the tune. In Guyana, the donor governments are paying the piper and they are calling the tune. In Guyana, President Granger is not calling the shots regarding the death penalty. The donor governments are calling the shots when it comes to enforcing the death penalty. They are the biggest opposition to the death penalty. Even President-Elect Trump supports the death penalty.
If the donor governments say there will be no capital punishment or you will loose your aid, the government will never put anyone to death. Therefore, President Granger’s hands are tied with respect to enforcing the death penalty. If President Granger enforces the death penalty, President-Elect Trump will be his biggest supporter. I think it is time for Guyana to bring back the death penalty. If the Americans can put a 22 year old to death, why should we not be able to do the same? After all, we have adopted the Americans other social issues, why not adopt this one as well.
Anthony Pantlitz
Chairman of the Kilcoy/Hampshire NDC

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Guyana, as a matter of policy, must restore the death penalty

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