Vote on death penalty in Jamaica left hanging

International human rights group Amnesty International has been urging politicians to reject the death penalty, arguing that capital punishment is not the answer to the country’s crime problem.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, November 21, 2008 – Jamaican parliamentarians will have a few more days to decide where they stand on the death penalty, after Prime Minster Bruce Golding postponed a crucial vote on the matter.

The MPs had been debating the issue since last week and a conscience vote had been scheduled for Wednesday. But when he closed debate on the matter, the Prime Minister called for a suspension of the vote until next Tuesday, November 25 when Parliament resumes.

“I do so for a number of reasons: I would like to allow time to have the fullest possible attendance in the House,” he said, with 45 of the 60 parliamentarians present. “Secondly, this issue is so important that I don't think any harm will be done if a few days on the weekend is allowed for members to think and, importantly, for persons to allow their conscience to be shaped and formed and influenced by members of the public and interest groups and so on."

International human rights group Amnesty International has been urging politicians to reject the death penalty, arguing that capital punishment is not the answer to the country’s crime problem.

The group said in a press release that the government should instead focus on implementing a strategic review of the police force and reforming the justice system.

Although the death penalty is still on the law books in Jamaica, there has not been an execution here since the late 1980s.