TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: RAMESH: PM'S HANGING PLAN A NATIONAL JOKE

Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said "it is a national joke for the Prime Minister, in a situation where there is a ten per cent detection rate and a one per cent conviction rate, to talk about implementing the death penalty as a solution to crime," in response to plans by Manning to amend the laws on hanging. Maharaj noted that "for you to reach the stage of the death penalty, you first have to detect, to hold and then convict". He said he would want to see the amendments before stating whether the Opposition would support them. He recalled, however, that when as Attorney General he attempted to bring a the Constitution Amendment No 2 bill to deal with the problem of execution of the death penalty, Manning did not support it as it breached the fundamental rights of those convicted of murder.