Opposition must vote to change law

Rowley, during a radio interview, said he heard calls coming from persons about bringing back the death penalty.

“The death penalty has never gone anywhere.

The death penalty was, is and remains the law of the land,” Rowley said. Recalling that the People’s National Movement (PNM) has advocated for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to replace the Privy Council as this country’s final appellate court, Rowley said, “For the Privy Council to be replaced, that has to be an agreement by the Opposition to vote to change the law. The Opposition has made it quite clear that they will not be doing that.” He further recalled that the former People’s Partnership (PP) government, “attempted to move away in part on the criminal side and not the civil side and that was found not to be possible.” Rowley reiterated, “So as long as the Opposition refuses to agree to support a change in the law the Privy Council remains the final court of appeal.” He explained the Privy Council has, “laid down certain conditions under which the death penalty can be carried out for those few persons who are found guilty and subject to the penalty.”