The Jamaica Star :: News :: Hanging in limbo - The Ministry of National Security contemplates on the issue of capital punishment

Hanging in limbo - The Ministry of National Security contemplates on the issue of capital punishment

Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

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With nearly 13,000 murders in Jamaica in the last 10 years, some 80 per cent of which have been caused by the gun, the Ministry of National Security is still contemplating on the issue of capital punishment.

According to Senator Arthur Williams, the minister of state for national security, 12,954 people were murdered in the last 10 years. Of that number, 9,000 were killed by the gun.

Of the more than 500 people killed since the start of this year, 79 were women and children. There were also 650 cases of robbery and 631 other cases of shooting.

Mr Williams stressed that law enforcement officials require the help of all citizens to adequately address the problem.

The junior minister was addressing a graduation ceremony at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine last Friday, where 117 personnel from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, Customs and the immigration services were given extensive training on how to deal with organised crime, money laundering and other gun-related issues.

Crucial

In an interview with THE STAR, Senator Williams said it was crucial for persons to be trained to keep them up-to-date with the criminal network. He said the specific training would go a long way in helping to patrol more than 1,000 kilometres of shoreline.

On the topical issue of hanging, Williams told the STAR that it "was alive" and will be discussed further. "The prime minister had given instructions for Minister Dorothy Lightbourne to compile a document for persons from both sides of the political divide to discuss (the matter of capital punishment) to see the way forward".

Senator Lightbourne is both the attorney general and minister of justice. She is also the leader of government business in the Senate.

The 'train the trainers' investigative techniques course, was funded by the United Nations to help law enforcement personnel detect and deter the influx of guns and other major crime tools into the country. The graduating class was the third such group to be trained in the last three years.