PM: Let good sense prevail on hanging bill

“Research has shown that everywhere else in the world where the death penalty is enforced, there is a decline in murders. I think that is something we need to concentrate on. We look forward to the support from all concerned,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She made the comments yesterday to journalists while at Penal Rock Road Penal, where she continued her toy drive in her constituency. She is also the Member of Parliament for Siparia. She charged that every right-thinking person in the country would want to see something happens to deal with the homicide rates on the island.

Persad-Bissessar recalled that the Bill for the death penalty had been previously brought to Parliament but needed a special majority.

She further recalled that because the Opposition party, the People’s National Movement, did not support it the Bill was defeated.

“We will take some of the commentary made and the concerns raised. So, we will tweak the bill, make some changes and amendments and later get it into Parliament. It will not be exactly the same as before, we will make some changes given some concerns raised by others,” Persad-Bissessar noted.

Responding to the findings of a recent opinion survey poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) which revealed that she was the best Prime Minister, Persad-Bissessar charged that with all other polls, her response remained the same.

“It is a snapshot at the particular point in time. The poll has to guide us if we are going in the right direction and if it is saying that then I must continue to do what I am doing in order to save that positive image and direction coming out of that poll,” she added.

Scores of children accompanied by their parents and guardians flocked along the Penal Rock Road yesterday and awaited the arrival of their MP who arrived bearing toys and snacks .

The toy drive continues today in her constituency.