Rowley and the priest

Therefore, let it be implemented expeditiously.” Several reactions followed. Leslie Gilkes: “Please get the hangman busy,” (Express, Dec 15); Chastising Fr Taylor, Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris said the “death penalty cannot solve crime” (Guardian Dec 13); former attorney general (AG) Ramesh Maharaj said, “death penalty a deterrent,” and like Wayne Sturge, felt the penalty can be executed “within an efficient judicial system” (Guardian, Dec 15); Like Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, AG Faris Al-Rawi noted “hanging is the law” and should be implemented. (Newsday, Dec 3) Before that, Jay Rakhar wrote: “Criminals will continue to rape our citizens and decapitate them. We are at the mercy of the criminals. The death penalty is overdue.” Supporting death penalty, he noted it looks peculiar when an MP enters Parliament, takes the oath to uphold written laws, then opposes them.

(Express, April 1). This is different from when a Bill is debated. In a sense, the Privy Council 1993 Pratt and Morgan ruling — execute within five years — has given Caribbean governments a welcome non-execution defence, or excuse. To help settle the matter, in 1987 as an Independent Senator, I successfully moved a motion for Parliament and the NAR government to review the status and implications of the death penalty.

This motion led to a commission of enquiry headed by Elton Prescott, SC, which provided public support for the death penalty.

Following the joint PNM-UNC crime talks, Dr Rowley noted the complicated pathway to executions.

Two weeks ago, he gave a “law and order” speech at the opening of new Besson Street Police Station where he declared: “We have a situation on the streets that was linked to the country’s problem with dispensing swift justice. As head of government, I cannot say there is swift justice even when we are fortunate to have some detection and the perpetrators known. These perpetrators want to be free to commit more crime and facing the conviction…the cost of that freedom is paying their lawyers (in cash) to ensure that the process is delayed in court. In T&T, we better face up to that.” This declaration fell into Fr Taylor’s pulpit. Last year, (Oct 26), Dr Rowley said: “There is a human side but most importantly, there are serious issues in this country and as Prime Minister I will bring serious attention. Not all will bring me accolades but sometimes you have to do the right thing.” Last March, a regional anti-death penalty forum, including our lawyer Gregory Delzin, the passionate Leela Ramdeen and Rev Gwendolyn Greaves, sought to mobilize for abolition. Three weeks ago, a nation-wide petition (Change.org) by citizen Brent Gerard Housain is pleading with the government to implement the death penalty.

Five months ago, after being pressed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ official, Ivan Simonovic, to abolish the death penalty, Guyana’s President David Granger cautiously replied: “I am advised by cabinet. Guyana is an independent sovereign state and it is not for me to get ahead of what people want.”(Newsday, July 25) Like Guyana and most of the Caribbean, over 80 percent of our population, including Catholics, support the death penalty.

At the regional anti-death penalty forum, several biblical references were made by Catholic priest Fr Arnold Francis — from Matthew (32), John (10) to Luke (30). Fr Taylor quoted for victim-justice and the death-penalty from Genesis (9:6), John (19:10, 11), Romans (13: 1-4), St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas to the Council of Trent of 1566, the latter stating “the power of life and death is permitted to civil magistrates because theirs is the responsibility under law to punish the guilty and protect the innocent.’’ Fr Taylor seems correct — the Catholic Church, with its recent modifications over birth control, marriage and divorce and gender, is in a state of transition with confused members, a condition long noted by the late Fr Garry Pantin.