By Svetlana Marshall

WITH an increase in global threats against humanity from the Islamic State (IS), a terrorist group operating in Iraq and Syria, a call is being made to keep the death penalty on the statute books.

Attorney-at-Law Avette Richards made the call on Tuesday during the Caribbean Regional Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal,Greater Georgetown.

Richards, who described herself as a concerned Guyanese, said in the past she would have advocated abolition of the death penalty, but given the war that has been launched against humanity by ISIS, she is now “sitting on the fence.”

The inhumane acts of terrorism executed by ISIS are no longer confined to Iraq and Syria, but have spread to Denmark, France, Mali, Nigeria and Turkey. Here in the Caribbean Region, reports suggest that 89 Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) nationals have joined the terrorist group.
“It is coming closer to home,” Richards posited, as she emphasised that it is now a global problem. “We cannot take certain things off of the books for now,” the attorney added, even as she called for a referendum to be done.

Human rights organisations across the world and the International Commission against the Death Penalty should have a more holistic perspective on the issue, she posited, noting that more attention should be given to victims and their families. Richards received approving nods from many who were there.

Richards’s comments come at a time when the United States has issued a global travel alert as the manhunt continues for the recent Paris attackers. The global alert was issued on Monday by the U.S. State Department in light of “increased terrorist threats” from militant groups in various regions of the world.

According to the U.S. State Department, current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups are planning terrorist attacks in multiple regions – attacks which may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons.
“Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Da’esh return from Syria and Iraq. Additionally, there is a continuing threat from unaffiliated persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organisations, but conducted on an individual basis. Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theatres, open markets, and aviation services,” the U.S. State Department said.

On November 13, approximately 120 persons were killed when gunmen and bombers launched a series of attacks across Paris.

GHRA DIFFERS
But the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) representative Merle Mendonca said Guyana and by extension the rest of the Caribbean should not fight “fire with fire or violence with violence.” According to her, innovative strategies are needed that would “encourage us to remain civilised human beings.”

Mendonca, who was among the panelists who spoke extensively on the need to abolish the death penalty, was backed by Coordinator of Red Thread Karen De Souza, who was a part of the audience. De Souza said based on her experience, it should not be left up to the judge to sentence someone to death, saying that the poor will suffer if the death penalty is not abolished.

“I do not believe that we should leave something as important as a person’s life to the discretion of a judge or to the discretion of the court.” According to her, many of the people who are sentenced to death are from the lowest possible economic strata of society and are often unable to employ the services of “high-flying lawyers.”

23 persons on death row
According to Deputy Solicitor General of the Legal Affairs Ministry Prithima Kissoon, 23 persons are awaiting the death sentence. In Guyana, the Criminal Law Offences (Amendment) Act of 2010 has removed the mandatory death penalty for persons convicted of murders.

The amended legislation has made provisions for life imprisonment and imprisonment with the possibility of parole. However, the death penalty has been retained for limited cases such as murder of a police officer on duty, a judicial officer or treason or terrorism.