Death penalty for rape

THE EDITOR: Rape is a most horrible and heinous crime, and although it carries a sentence of imprisonment for life, I think that the punishment just doesn’t fit the crime. For already the rape victim is permanently scarred, which in itself is equivalent of psychological imprisonment. Until quite recently I was one of those who opposed the death penalty for murder but with the present spate of rapes and after much deep thinking, and some inner emotional urging, I am appealing to the powers that be, to amend the Sexual Offences Act, making the death penalty mandatory for the crime of rape.

There is an urgent need to send the strongest message to all the males in our society, reminding them that a female is a person, a human being who must be fully respected. And no matter how she carries herself, no one has the right to violate her. I am also pleading to our young girls and women to always conduct themselves with the greatest measure of self-respect and decency.

OSWALD GALLION
Arima