Rowley says PNM will continue to vote down hanging bill, says death penalty is still the law

Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley has defended the PNM's decision last year not to support the bill to hang convicted killers. And he said his party will cotninue to vote down the bill if the government brings it back.

On Saturday Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her government is determined to reintroduce the bill, which the PNM refused to support when it was presented to Parliament.

"We are committed to the vigorous pursuit of those who are prepared to violate the rights of innocent citizens within the context of internationally recognized and accepted fundamental human rights for all," Persad-Bissessar said.

"My Government is committed to the implementation of the Death Penalty, which remains part of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago," she added.

Rowley told reporters Monday the Prime Minister is trying to  "demonise" the PNM.

He said the death sentence is still the law and explained that the bill as drafted by the Government would have allowed the Privy Council to remove the death sentence entirely.

"We will not be shamed or bullied into doing foolishness," the PNM leader said. He added that "they can bring the Bill as often as they like...We will speak the truth to the people of Trinidad and Tobago...telling you what the facts are.

He said his party would continue to vote down the hanging bill "because we support the maintenance and preservation of the mandatory death sentence on the books of Trinidad and Tobago."

Rowley also said he would support a revised Bill which improves the judicial system or makes the Caribbean Court of Justice the final court of appeal, replacing the Privy Council.