“Senate president calls for resumption of hanging; PM says it’s not a solution” – The Nassau Guardian

Except from this article;

“Senate President Lashell Adderley yesterday called for the resumption of hanging in The Bahamas.

Her comments came after police reported that a 12-year-old girl was found dead with only a top on and a piece of cloth tied around her neck.

“We need to bring back hanging,” Adderley said.

“Unfortunately, the criminals do not fear the law. They are determined to take the risk to hurt people, hurt young children, and then they in turn laugh at the justice system.

“So we have to let them know that the justice system in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is not a joke, and we are serious about justice and if that means bringing back hanging then that we must.”

Adderley said she believes that if you take a life your life deserves to be taken.

She asked, “Why should you be sitting up there, being fed by the state, relaxing for the rest of your life whereas the rest of us are out here working hard to support you?”

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said yesterday he’s looking for solutions to crime.

“When you start talking about hanging, that’s not a solution,” he said on the sidelines of a groundbreaking ceremony for the Centreville Hilltop Agri-Village.

“That’s after the fact. That’s after somebody would have died or been killed. I’m trying to prevent killing.

“Talking about what one has to exact after an offense has been committed, that’s not my focus right now.

“My focus is stopping offenses from being. It’s on prevention, not on punishment, at this time. Punishment has its place and yes, people should be punished and would be punished, according to law.”

But one second Mr. Prime Minister Davis capital punishment is law; I just thought that I would point this out, however, this then leads us to a complex dialogue concerning the application of capital punishment, which, as noted, is legally recognized yet bound by the Privy Council’s stipulations.  These stipulations being that this form of punishment can only be used in instances of “the worst of the worst” and the “rarest of the rarest”; who actually defines these instances.

Many may seem very emotive concerning the recent killing of the twelve year old female and some are asking that these emotions be out aside as we seek to address capital punishment and murder; so let us do just that.

In my opinion the prime minister seems to be addressing this issue more like a defense attorney than a chief legislator, as he “talks down” Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Senate President Lashell Adderley; with this remarks reminding me of the script from the movie “Minority Report”, as he seeks to want to stop murders before they are committed.

It would appear that the prime minister is not concerned with the mitigation of crime through means of deterrence through enforcement but rather through means of “other means”; as to what these “other means” are, the rest of the country is very interested in finding out.

Earlier this week there was an instant where in it was made clear that the prime minister has no solution to our economic situation; and now he shows us that he nor any of this Cabinet or government has any solution to our crime problems – what does the prime minister and his government have a solution for?

The prime minister, while in opposition, heavily criticized the Free National Movement (FNM) government under the Hon. Hubert Ingraham for not having a solution to the crime situation, he went as far as to erect the infamous “Murder Boards”.  This would have suggested that at the time that the indeed had a solution to our crime problem, it is clear today that he did and does not.

As we navigate these troubling discussions on crime and punishment, the key will be finding a balanced approach that ensures justice while also addressing the root causes of violence. It is imperative that our leaders listen, unify, and act thoughtfully, paving the way for a safer future that reflects the values and needs of all citizens.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END