Humanists: Let MPs vote on hanging

The group issued a statement yesterday. "There is no country in the world where hanging has reduced criminal activity." The Humanists said hanging simply does not work.

"In Trinidad and Tobago the murder rate started climbing in 1999 — the same year the nine members of the Dole Chadee gang were hanged in one weekend."

They said the murder rate has risen from 7.1 per 100,000 population in 1999, to 9.1 by the end of 2000, to a current 19 per 100,000. "There are many reasons the death penalty is ineffective."

The Humanists suggested that while hanging might satisfy the public’s thirst for revenge and give the impression that the authorities are "strong," governments come under no pressure to implement effective measures to fight crime such as boosting the police, intelligence agencies and law courts. "This may well be why the countries with the lowest crime rates, with the exception of Singapore, are also countries which do not have the death penalty."

While saying violent crime was our biggest problem, the Humanists said it will not be solved by catering to irrational, barbaric, quick-fix ideas, but the authorities needed to look at the research and take a long-term view instead.

The Government needs pro-active and preventative solutions, said the group, rather than emotionally-charged band-aid measures.

"This move by the Government to start hangings seems to be nothing less than a cynical ploy to play on citizens’ fears, while avoiding the hard and patient work needed to control criminal activity."

The Government should instead have debated the matter in Parliament, giving MPs a conscience vote, informed by a wider public debate in society.