On November 3, the Second Secretary of the Bahamas'...

On November 3, the Second Secretary of the Bahamas' mission, Cecil C. Ferguson, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (human rights) under item 116a (death penalty), said the debate in the Committee clearly emphasized that there was no international consensus on the issue of the abolition of the death penalty. "Many representatives in this Committee have expressed their Governments' respect for the right of those countries that have abolished the death penalty to do so. However, these representatives have, at the same time, underscored that there should be equal respect and understanding for those countries which retain the death penalty," Ferguson said. "The Bahamas recognize the sovereign and inalienable right of a State to determine, as appropriate, the best way to maintain order and stability within its jurisdiction. Thus, The Bahamas maintains the death penalty as one of the means of ensuring a safe and secure environment in which all may live, consistent with internationally agreed principles of good governance."