Dear editor,
BY now, the whole nation has been made aware of the barbaric slaughters of Joel and Isaiah Henry. The incident has sparked widespread outrage (ignore the few fools with their pathetic justifications) and rightfully so. Viewing the photographs of the bodies on social media made me want to vomit. And that’s just me–a stranger! Imagine the trauma and horror currently experienced by those closest to those young lives. What kind of savage beasts would perpetrate such satanic and monstrous atrocities? This hate crime has set Guyana back. It is a cancer on this nation that will only deepen the racial divide. Justice must be served.

But what has prompted me to pen this missive is something I picked up while scrolling through my social media feed. Many people all across the country are calling for the death penalty for the killers. They think that such criminals deserve only death. And I don’t blame them at all. The beasts responsible for the crime don’t deserve to make a single step on this earth, holding such hatred in their hearts.

We know by now that Guyana has pledged to join worldwide efforts in abolishing capital punishment. Our country hasn’t actually abolished the death penalty, though there is a suspension on its use. Quick research will show that the last execution in Guyana occurred in 1997. However, look at the widespread condemnation of this act. Look at the extent as to how heinous this hate crime was. Tell me, if you don’t feel, for at least one second, that the killers deserve to be put down. I know I do. The sheer fact that we are hearing calls for the death of the killers from sections of civil society says something. The people want something. The government should be made aware of this. If, in this day and age, the people feel capital punishment is necessary, then I think that we as civil society deserve to engage the government on this issue.

Moreover, there is that one fear persisting with executions: What if you execute someone wrongly convicted of a crime? This is why death penalties should be handed out once completely justifiable. A good example of this is Imran Ramsaywack receiving a death sentence for the brutal murder of a businesswoman in 2015. The judge ruled that the killing was “a cold- blooded and calculated robbery which turned into murder.” He also considered the gruesome manner in which the victim was killed. It must be noted that the judge also considered the murderer unfit to dwell among civilised citizens, hence imposing on him the death penalty. He hasn’t been rid from this earth due to the suspension on the use of the death penalty.

Further, this nation is bleeding due to the horrific deaths of these two boys. It is my opinion that the government should hold a referendum regarding this. Let us see what civil society wants.

Yours faithfully,
Nikhil Sankar