Dorothy Lightbourne

The Government says it has no plans at this time to hold a referendum on the future of the death penalty in Jamaica.

This came yesterday from Attorney-General Dorothy Lightbourne in response to Senator A.J. Nicholson, the former attorney-general in the last government.

"That is not being contemplated at this time," Ms. Lightbourne told Senator Nicholson.

She told the Senate that the Government was committed, however, to the holding of a conscience vote on the question of whether the death penalty should be retained.

She said this step would be in keeping with the recommendation of Parliament's Charter of Rights Committee, which had met under Mr. Nicholson's chairmanship.

She advised, however, that before the conscience vote could be held, a joint select committee of Parliament would first have to meet and formally adopt the report of the Charter of Rights Committee.