The Editor, Sir:

Many years ago. I was appointed a member of a committee of Enquiry into capital punishment, by the then Minister Spauldings under a previous Jamaica Labour Party Government. The committee which was chaired by Rev Evans Bailey, debated two critical issues: whether capital punishment was justifiable, and whether our systems could adequately protect the innocent.

Research at the time showed that at least one innocent man had been hanged in Jamaica. If memory serves correctly, the name was Fletcher. The findings may be in a dusty file somewhere.

Circumstances have changed, but principles remain the same. There were strong opinions (a) that capital punishment was only justifiable where a society was unable to protect possible future victims and (b) that justice would best be served by a system whereby the guilty were compelled to spend the rest of their lives working to compensate the dependants of the victim.

I am, etc.,

SHIRLEY MAYNIER BURKE

maynier@infochan.com

Kingston 10