Bless you, Fr Taylor

Referring precisely to the horrific murders of Dana Seetahal and Shannon Banfield, he added: “Justice lies trampled in the streets.The death penalty is still the law of this land. Therefore, let it be implemented expeditiously.” His Archbishop, Fr Joseph Harris, chastised Fr Taylor by saying: “What was said goes totally against what the church stands for. How do we deal with these serious crimes. Number one, you have to find the criminals.” (Guardian, Dec 13) Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley said hanging would not solve our crime problem and that “we have to look at parenting and social conditions and return to our brother’s keeper.” But that is part of the church’s work too.

In the middle of this long-standing issue, is Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi who, pressed to respond to Fr Taylor’s appeal for “the State to protect citizens”, said: “The current law of TT is to be applied for murder and we certainly intend to apply the law. There are 32 people now on Death Row. I have been tracking them since I came into office. None are now in a position to meet the hangman.” (Newsday, Dec 13) But the spirit of Fr Taylor’s intervention is beyond the death penalty. It is fundamentally about bringing law and order as the rule and not the exception.

Well-known is the population’s short memory. After each horrific murder or child killing there is the wailing, funeral tears and recrimination.

Until next time. Fr Taylor’s sermon is driven by a strong, persuasive, public interest context.

That is, the seemingly unstoppable blood flowing on the streets, homes and bars. Let me remind you of a few examples of what has been happening during the year – reflective of Fr Taylor’s great worry.

Just look at a few media headlines and editorials: Six bullets for mourner who went to the wake of a dead man long missing (Dec 5), Injustices in our justice system (Sean Annan, Express, Dec 1), Granny beaten to death with brick for $1,000, home ransacked, set on fire (Dec 19), Killing spree (Nov 6), Two men gunned down in Arima, it was Bap! Bap! over and over (Nov 3), Man killed with garden fork (Oct 30), Couple throat slit (Oct 10), Anger as bandits kill hardware owner’s daughter (Sept 16), Victims must speak out (Sept 18), Cutlass-man kills 1, wounds policeman in daylight chopping spree (May 25), Sleeping ‘Santa’ killed (May 23), Woman stabbed to death more than 20 times (May 13), Bullet goes through 3-year-old (April 1), Retiree beaten, killed at home (Mar 31), Woman butchered, head missing, stuffed in barrel (Mar 17), Nurse slashed, killed (Mar 6), Girl, 14, gang-raped, shot, dumped in well (Jan 11). Etc, etc, etc. Heartless, vicious disregard for the sanctity of life. To helplessly appeal for “God to give justice” is to deny the powerful fact that this country has a constitution and an oath-driven Parliament compelled to “make laws for the peace, order and good government” of the country. (Section 53) As much as some may prefer, this country is not run on the Bible or any holy text, but on a constitution to be operationalised by a freely and fairly elected government – until it is similarly changed. Dr Eric Williams recognised that - preamble notwithstanding. That is the point also made by former AG Ramesh Maharaj when he said: “If we don’t want a law, then go to parliament and change it.” (Guardian, Dec 15).

A view recently shared by lawyer Larry Lalla and criminologist Danielle Francois. (The Bible and objections to the death penalty, next week.)