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Strenuous efforts to resume hanging - Jamaica House notes public impatience
THE GOVERNMENT insisted yesterday that it was "actively taking steps" to deal with crime, in the wake of heavy criticisms from private sector interests over its seeming inability to deal with the problem. In response to recent calls from business leaders, including tourism mogul Gordon "Butch" Stewart as recently as Tuesday for it to solicit outside help in tackling the problem, the Government, in a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister last night said a number of operational measures have been agreed on between the Ministry of National Security and the leadership of the security forces. But it dismissed suggestions that overseas help be sought, pointing out that apart from the suggestions not being specific, "foreign police forces do not send their personnel to do regular policing in other jurisdictions". The statement pointed out that more than 400 members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force have benefited from training locally and abroad in investigative techniques, search methods, intelligence gathering and analysis, firearm analysis, firearm identification, crime prevention, organised crime, passenger narcotics detection, domestic violence and several other areas. The Government also indicated that the death penalty could be reintroduced soon, stating that it was "aware of the country's impatience regarding the imposition of the death penalty and gives the assurance that strenuous efforts are being made to remove the remaining legal and other impediments to the resumption of hanging". But it said no action can be taken at this stage to resume hanging until the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England hands down its judgement in the Neville Lewis case. Lewis was convicted in October 1994 along with Peter Blaine, for the murder of Vic Higgs, 59-year-old Kingston businessman and golf consultant. |
