LETTER OF THE DAY - Time to bring back hanging!
published: Saturday | July 2, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AFTER THE brutal slaying of three minors, who dares to have second thoughts about the resumption of hanging? A few months ago 7-year-old Shanika was lured away from where she was left by her mother at Coronation Market in downtown Kingston, taken to some nearby bushes, raped and killed. Only 7 years old, she was at a tender age, unable to identify what was happening to her. Then to have read of another case occurring on Wednesday, two minors again raped and killed in Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland ­ two girls, Shaneka and Shauna-Kay, 9 and 8 years old respectively. This is a serious crime that should not go unpunished.

TAXPAYERS' MONEY

I mentioned unpunished because certainly the police will find the perpetrators and put them away in a prison cell, to be fed by taxpayers' money. Oftentimes I hear persons say, "You attack any member of my family, mi nuh fraid fi go do time for whomever." The thought of being locked away for a day scares the hell out of me. Too bad it's not the same for the perpetrators of such gruesome acts, they are not afraid.

They robbed the future of these children. Had they known that they would be hanged once found guilty, they probably would not have done what they did. Murderers and rapists ought to know that a bad deed does not go unpunished; nor is there a perfect crime. They need to know that when they commit such cruel offences that they will be hanged! The level of crime is escalating and needs to be stopped, we need the old Jamaica where hanging existed, and peace reigned. We need the bill to be passed to resume hanging. I cannot see why after these murders of the innocent this is not contemplated.

I am, etc.,

CHARMALEE FRANKSON

Cfrankson20@yahoo.com

St. Catherine