Vote for Privy Council funding

THE EDITOR: I never knew that the Government paid for convict’s appeals to the Privy Council for stays of execution. What an eye-opener! No wonder lawyers are so eager to help. I, for one, applaud and support Govern-ment’s intention to stop funding this practice. On the other hand, it is a bit worrisome that Govern-ment would deprive them (after all they are citizens) of legal counsel, since most if not all of the condemned could ill-afford an attorney. But it would certainly curb what has become a bizarre circus in which the only winners are the lawyers — the prisoners, at best, get life in prison, the taxpayer’s money is wasted, while the lawyers whistle all the way to the bank.

It would also reveal just how zealous these “human rights” attorneys really are. I recall that an attorney shed tears (no doubt of the crocodile variety) when Glen Ashby was hung. The same lawyer must be crying now, sincerely this time, at possibly being deprived of a lucrative income. Yet, even though the will of the people is “hang them!” it would seem there are legal obstacles to this cutting off of funds to cheat the hangman. Here’s a possible solution — ignorant as I am of the law, might not a referendum on the issue help in expediting things? Let the people decide via the ballot box.

REID MOORE
Port-of-Spain