PM suspends hanging vote for absent MPs
November 20, 2008
THE CALL by one parliamentarian for a referendum to decide on the retention or removal of the death penalty will not prevent members of the House of Representatives from registering their conscience vote on the issue next Tuesday.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding late yesterday afternoon moved a motion for the adjournment of the House, effectively suspending the debate on hanging until the next sitting.
No public input
Golding said this was done to give members who were not in attendance an opportunity to vote.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller was noticeably absent from the sitting.
Member of Parliament (MP) for South Eastern Westmoreland, Luther Buchanan, said Jamaicans should have been given the opportunity to make the decision on capital punishment in a national referendum.
Closing the debate, Golding said the first order of business in the House on Tuesday would be the vote to retain or remove capital punishment.
"This issue is so important that I don't think that any harm would be done if a few days on the weekend are allowed for members to reflect, to think and, important, despite the fact that it is a conscience vote, for persons to allow their conscience to be shaped and formed and influenced by (the) views of members of the public and interest groups," he said.
Retention of hanging
During the debate, Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles made a passionate appeal for members to support the retention of hanging.
Charles said if his constituents were of the view that the death penalty should be removed he would resign immediately....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
