FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. (File photo)
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
IN light of the country’s soaring murder count, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Friday expressed his support for capital punishment, saying he remains a strong advocate for hanging.
Although the law allows for capital punishment, The Bahamas held its last execution in January 2000, when convicted murderer David Mitchell was hanged.
“I'm a strong advocate of hanging and my position has not changed,” Dr Minnis told reporters on the sidelines of his book presentation to The Bahamas Christian Council. “There are many who would argue that because it has not been done for a long time, and because of the position of the Privy Council, then we should take it out of the law books because we have not done it.
“It should be done,” Dr Minnis said.
The debate on capital punishment comes on the heels of 15 people being killed so far this year.
On, Monday Great Commission Ministries president Bishop Walter Hanchell told reporters that opposing the death penalty is against the will of God. However, retired Mount Tabor Senior Pastor Bishop Neil Ellis said if the government won’t enforce death penalty laws it should remove them from the books.
Asked if he believed capital punishment would be a crime deterrent, Dr Minnis said if people knew that their punishment could result in hanging it could reduce the country’s crime.
“We've seen examples where hanging has occurred, the violence subsequently subsided or decreased dramatically. I think if individuals knew that their life would be terminated by hanging, I think it would have a great impact,” he said.
Earlier this month, former Cabinet Minister Leslie Miller said legislators lack the guts to make capital punishment happen again.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said she won’t join the bandwagon for reinstating capital punishment because its return is unrealistic. She said the focus should be on taking young people off the streets and teaching them a better way to live.
In 2006, the London-based Privy Council ruled that the country’s mandatory death sentence for convicted murderers was unconstitutional. Many believe the Privy Council would never uphold the death penalty.
Comments
birdiestrachan 10 months ago
The doc and the pastor can sign up to peform the execution doccan cross his foot and put his hand in his kimber. What a kodax moment that will make go doc you and the pastor doc make sure to wears your pink shirt or will you wear your red Fnm shirt
TalRussell 10 months ago
As The Colony's --- A Darker Way --- Discussions intensifies, concerning --- "Swing e'm" at gallows. --- We need to be clear about --- Can one remain a strong advocate for hanging.through the --- True irony --- Occur in real life situations? --- A plot twist of sorts. --- Texans seek a law that would abolish and criminalize abortions, leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face criminal charges that could carry ---- The death penalty. --- Yes?
temptedbythefruitofanother 10 months ago
These idiots can't even keep the traffic lights working in Nassau but we expect them to get it right when hanging people? Ridiculous
TalRussell 10 months ago
Who asked a Father --- To kill his Son to “Test his faith” --- Yes?
sheeprunner12 10 months ago
How many Bahamians are on death row today????
How many murderers are on bail in 242 today???
How many Govt cases are before the PC to overturn the "worst of the worst" policy???
These statistics tell the whole story .......
Porcupine 10 months ago
Our thinking remains childlike and untutored. Dr. Minnis and those who think shallow like him. Why do we have to lag in every way possible? No moral compass. Few who understand their own faith. It is difficult to see our this country will survive.
M0J0 10 months ago
I wonder where was this voice when He had the power to implement it.
The_Oracle 10 months ago
The fear of death by each others hand doesn't seem to stop them, why would the threat of hanging? Anything involving the courts drags on forever.......
hrysippus 10 months ago
I wonder how the right honourable Dr. Hubert Minnis can reconcile his solemn Hippocratic oath. to do no harm, with his support of state executions? Did he have his fingers crossed when swearing that medical doctors oath?
ExposedU2C 9 months, 4 weeks ago
This tyrannical numbskull of an authoritarian dictator is responsible for the deaths of more Bahamians than any other Bahamian in the entire history of the Bahamas. Thousands died in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and during the COVID-19 epidemic because of the most stupid decisions made by this inhumane idiot. No Bahamian should ever forget this fact.
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