The Editor, Sir:

With the murderous onslaught by the criminal hoodlums continuing to seriously affect Jamaica, the calls intensify for the reintroduction of the death penalty. In light of certain political overtures or statements in recent times, the death penalty seems set to once again become a campaign issue in the upcoming general parliamentary elections.

While I am a proponent of the reinstatement of the death penalty, I recognise that the death penalty is not and cannot be seen as a panacea for our serious crime problem.

Arresting our crime problem requires that the police force is adequately equipped, in terms of manpower, training and resources, so as to be in a position to effectively and efficiently execute their duties.

We have to consider, as part of our crime-reduction initiative, investing seriously in the education and training of our people, in addition to improving the social conditions that affect or inhibit the progress of so many of our people, especially those residing in the inner-city communities.

Under current law, the death penalty is mandatory for capital offences, a category which should be expanded, in my view. However, I do not believe that the death penalty should be automatically considered in such instances. It is my position that the death penalty should be made executable only in instances where there is no dispute or question as to the guilt of the accused. Irrefutable evidence, such as DNA or a closed- circuit television camera, linking the accused to the capital murder would suffice. Once there is a chance, however slight, that the accused might not have done the crime, then life imprisonment should be considered once there is a conviction, of course.

I am, etc.,

KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER

sangstek@msn.com

Attorney-at-Law

New Jersey, U.S.A.

Via Go-Jamaica