Who will we hang if we can’t find killers?

I say yes, please bring back the hangman and let us restore some order in this lawless land.

Let us not forget that the Offences Against the Person Act of 1925 states that “every person convicted of murder shall suffer death.” TT ranked 101 on the Corruption Perception Index in 2016. Part of cleaning up the corruption that is plaguing our country should include making an example of those who have committed murders, via the hangman’s noose and, perhaps, we will watch order being restored to our nation.

As our citizens will understand, when testing boundaries there will be repercussions.

There will be a zero tolerance on crime.

However, who will we hang? Who are we going to hang when there are high rates of unsolved murder cases? According to the Police Service, there were 420 murders in 2015, only 57 of which were solved. In 2016 there were 462 murders, only 70 of which were solved. Astounding figures.

So who are we going to hang when we do not know who committed the crime? Who are we going to hang when we are behind in implementing the latest forensic technology to solve crimes? In 2014, ACP Wayne Dick suggested that while officers were sent abroad to learn crime-solving tactics, there was still much to be done in terms of the officers amending what they learnt to make it applicable to our local context. As such, resources need to be allocated in this area in an attempt to solve murders and by extension all other crimes. Only then we will know who to hang.

Lastly, will hanging instil fear in the hearts of our citizens when they think of committing murder? The last set of hangings were in 1999, under then Attorney General Maharaj.

Did it decrease the murder rate? No it did not. According to the TT Crime website, in 2000 there were 118 murders.

Between 1999 and this year, crime has steadily increased.

Studies have revealed that most murders are gang related. Moreover, there is a low detection rate as it is alleged there is lucrative relationship between the underworld and law enforcement institutions.

Therefore, it is obvious that before we can determine who we are going to hang, we have a lot of groundwork to do.

Louise D Dover via email