BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE it is not his place to decide on what punishment should be meted out to persons convicted of capital offences, Prime Minister Douglas says his government supports and respects the courts’ orders and their execution.
These sentiments were expressed at a press conference held Wednesday (Mar. 5) evening to address the recent murders that took place in the Federation.
Prime Minister Douglas, in response to a question from a member of the media, explained that should he be bestowed the power to decide on penalties, the sentence for persons convicted of capital offences, “would be very, very severe”.
He explained, however, that the Federation’s judicial system provides for accused persons to be given a free and fair trial, at the end of which, sentence is passed. He further explained that whatever be the sentence of the court, it would be carried out.
“I believe that if our system of justice had allowed me to be the judge, it would be very, very severe. But let me make the point that our justice system allows the police to carry out the necessary investigation. Hopefully have the right people, give them a fair trial with the assistance of appropriate counsel and then being tried, I would think, by their own peers, by jurors, and then the appropriate sentencing is pursued if they are found guilty.
“It is not for me to say what kind of sentence can be meted out to persons convicted of capital crimes, but I wish to emphasise, just in case it has escaped anyone, that that is why the government continues as a policy, not to remove the death penalty from our law books. And you can be assured that if it is the sentencing of the court that capital punishment be meted out, then the appropriate warrants, I am sure, will be given for such to be carried out.”
In support of his point, PM Douglas made reference to the hanging of Charles Elroy Laplace which took place last year December 19. He said Laplace’s hanging was the order of the court and it was carried out.
“I believe that you would recall a few months ago when there was the capital punishment carried out to one of our convicted capital crime offenders that the punishment was carried out and hanging did take place.
“There was an outcry from some quarters, Amnesty International but also in this country, there was overwhelming support. The country needs to see the harshness of punishment especially in cases of the brutality of these crimes. It is the brutality of the crimes that really get to people and the government is the servant of the people.”
Since the hanging of Laplace on Friday, December 19, 2008, a January 10 article published in Britain’s The Daily Mail referred to the twin-island Federation as “the murder capital of the world”.
The article was written by David Jones, who stated that the hanging of Laplace was a “gruesome scene from the West Indies of bygone days” and reminiscent of “when ruthless white sugar plantation bosses routinely lynched their troublesome black serfs”.
Jones’ article also made several contentious claims against the government, public officials and the country on a whole.
Among those claims is that officers of Her Majesty’s Prison were celebrating Laplace’s impending hanging by drinking on the job, “senior politicians in St Kitts & Nevis are convinced [hanging] is the only effective answer to the violent crime” and that the hanged man was “bound hand and foot” for eight hours prior to his execution.
And of recent, copies of many individual and group-signed letters sent to the Prime Minister have surfaced in the newsroom of SKNVibes, claiming the hanging of Laplace is a gruesome act and the government should desist from taking condemned criminals to the gallows.
Additionally, hundreds of comments were also sent to this media house, including Amnesty International, condemning the hanging. However, comments were also made by overseas-based nationals as well as citizens and residents of the Federation, who were in agreement with the hanging and claimed that the capital punishment still exists in the former British colony and justice was rightfully served.
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