Dennie Quill, ContributorOnce again there is renewed debate about capital punishment in Jamaica. It's a subject that stirs emotion and over the years, many column inches and considerable air time have been consumed by people arguing the pros and cons. The death penalty remains on the statute books of about half the nations of the world. It is outlawed or suspended in most of Europe, but in the United States more than 1,000 persons have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
But the growing momentum for abolition of the death penalty is rising and even when there is guilt beyond reasonable doubt, a significant number of persons contend that capital punishment is a relic of barbarism. I feel it's barbaric for a man to kick down someone's door and shoot him or her or me in cold-blood even as I beg for my life. Murder is barbaric.
The topic was discussed on radio this week. Superintendent Newton Amos, a man who knows about policing in the killing fields of this country, spoke passionately about why hangings of death row criminals should resume. He argued that when a murderer is convicted after proper investigation and competent legal representation, he should be put to death so he will never be able to menace the streets again.
men should be punished
for their own crimes
The superintendent cited examples of criminals who killed again and again after being released from prison. In short, he was saying men should be punished for their own crimes and not merely to deter others of like mind.
Another participant in the discussion was Heather Robinson who is part of a citizens-police support group and she posited an economic view saying the prisons are bursting at the seams and the country could not afford to accommodate any more death row criminals. These men have three meals a day, watch cable television, chat up a storm on their cell phones, and have sex, smoke and exercise all at our expense.
Then there was Dr. Carolyn Gomes, head of Jamaicans for Justice. In reacting to Miss Robinson's point about economics, she asked why we don't also get rid of handicapped children as they too are a burden on society. Honestly. How could anyone draw such an analogy? Disabled children are not criminals creating mayhem and wrecking people's lives. True, the state needs to spend far more money on caring for these unfortunate members of society and the resources being used to feed criminals could be better spent. Many people are a drain on the public purse but no one is recommending that they be killed in order to solve the problem.
Dr. Gomes, like so many others, appears to confuse retributive punishment with vengeance. To my way of thinking veng-eance is a personal matter and is often out of character with the offence or wrong inflicted. On the other hand, I see retribution as being impersonal punishment by the State in a manner that fits the crime and most closely accords with the Biblical injunction of an "eye for an eye".
death penalty
As we enter this new phase of debate, I urge those who oppose the death penalty to read Romans 13 v 4 which states: "For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." This and other verses in the good book have helped to underpin my support for the death penalty.
The death penalty imposes respect for human life. So long as the death penalty remains law, we are indeed making a mockery of the Constitution when we refuse to carry out these sentences. I can understand that people can become a bit queasy about death by hanging, but there are more humane ways we could consider such as lethal injection.
The only other thing that would make me happy is that convicted criminals be compelled to make restitution to the victims' and their families.
P.S: My readers have asked me to respond to the great announcements made by the Chinese delegation since I was so critical about the impending mission. I will say this. In my lifetime I have heard about half-a-dozen announcements about development projects for Port Royal and so far not one has commenced. I will applaud when I see the bauxite plant. Did I hear someone say we have 50 years of reserve left? Enough said.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com
