THE Guyana Parliament has done well in approving legislation to end mandatory execution for convicted murderers and, instead introduce alternative prison terms.
Additionally, the amended Criminal Law Offences Bill, unanimously approved in the National Assembly on Thursday makes the death penalty compulsory for killers of three categories of murder victims – judges, police and soldiers.
While, therefore, the death penalty for murder remains on the statute book, the approved amendments, as piloted in parliament by Attorney General Charles Ramson, would have the effect of placing Guyana in a uniquely different position to that of other countries of the Caribbean Community.
The general quality of bi-partisan contributions across the parliament chamber were also refreshing when contrasted with current emotional cries in some CARICOM jurisdictions, including by lawmakers, for expeditious enforcement of the death penalty.
It was interesting to note that while PNCR parliamentarian, Clarissa Riehl, favoured extending the categories for mandatory death penalty to include convicted killers in piracy and hijacking cases, the AFC parliamentarian, Khemraj Ramjattan, was contending that the government had amended the legislation under pressure from aid donors.
The AFC parliamentarian may need to inform himself of the fact that traditional aid donors to Guyana and other CARICOM states have long ceased the practice of linking development aid to the death penalty for murder.
Just last Monday (October 11) the European Union released a statement to coincide with the observance of what’s known as ‘World and European Day Against the Death Penalty’.
The opportunity of this occasion was taken by the EU to reaffirm opposition to the death penalty for murder but stressed that aid would not be withheld from ANY nation where its laws require execution for murder.
Let those who seem to relish committing murder also take time to understand the amendments just approved to the Criminal Law Offences Bill.
The circumstances for alternative sentencing are clearly outlined as the mandatory death penalty for killers of judges, soldiers and police.