The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THOUSANDS of Bahamians will urge the government to “remove impediments to capital punishment” by participating in a march and motorcade on Saturday, event organiser and social activist Rodney Moncur said yesterday.

His comments came as calls for the implementation of capital punishment have intensified in view of the country’s murder rate.

“The society is tired of the number of murders and mayhem which are taking place in the Bahamas and we believe these murders can be reduced through swift justice,” said Mr Moncur.

“It calls for correction to our administration of justice. First thing we have to realize is the Attorney General’s office is grossly inefficient and is not working and if you have an inefficient Attorney General’s office then the courts by extension will not function properly. We are marching once again to bring pressure on the Parliament of the Bahamas to remove all of the impediments which prevent persons charged with murder from getting bail and to move all of the impediments which prevent murderers from being executed.”

Mr Moncur said an invitation to participate in the march was sent to leaders and members of the three major political parties. He added that DNA leader Branville McCartney is the only member to accept the invitation on behalf of himself and his party and is expected to participate in Saturday’s march.

“We invited most of the trade unions and have gotten commitments from teachers, Bahamas Public Services Union members, the Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union members,” Mr Moncur added.

“The trade union movements have made a commitment and the business community has indicated that they are interested in lending manpower and money.”

Mr Moncur said participants in the event will call for the removal of the Privy Council through a Constitutional amendment.

In response to the view that statistics show capital punishment is unlikely to deter people from committing violent crimes, Mr Moncur said: “Capital punishment is a punishment for the individual who offends the law. He and he alone suffers the penalty. If there are citizens who learn from that, and therefore do not commit a murder, that’s wonderful. To those who don’t, however, guess what happens, they will suffer death. That argument that capital punishment should not be carried out because it would not deter murderers is a gangsta argument. In that case, we might as well not enforce every law and let people carry out what they want to. Whenever an individual runs afoul of the law, he deserves to be punished.”

Saturday’s march, he said, will show “how you bring political pressure on the government to act.”

“The Negro leadership of the Bahamas has been strongly influenced by outside liberal, Nazi-like forces which have been opposed to capital punishment. They have hidden behind the Privy Council by telling us it is not them, but the Privy Council that doesn’t allow it. But they could get rid of the Privy Council through a Constitutional amendment. And if they are unwilling to carry out the death penalty, they should resign and let us elect leaders who are willing to do it. We are ready to see a revolution in our society. The government should carry out the will of the people. We are not asking for much; we are saying you have to protect us and give us justice.”

Persons hoping to participate in Saturday’s march should head to the Golden Gates Shopping Centre on Carmichael and Blue Hill Roads for 8am.

Participants will march onto Bay Street, before returning to the Golden Gates Shopping Centre.

Mr Munroe said organisers will have “big trucks” on hand for people to ride when they get tired.

He said persons could participate in the motorcade by riding in their cars.

Businessman Rupert Roberts and Dr Duane Sands are co-marshals for the parade, he said.