Jack launches "A FISHERMAN's PLEA" campaign for restoration of hangings

Part of the audience present for the launch of the campaign to hang convicted killers

The mother of one of the murdered fishermen pleads for justice. Ann Dookie photo

Jack Warner launched a campaign on Wednesday aimed at getting public support for the restoration of hangings in Trinidad & Tobago.

The Chaguanas West MP decided to revive the campaign following the murder of three fishermen from his constituency - two brothers and their friend. They were killed at sea.

The parents of the murdered men were present along with scores of constituents as Warner launched "A Fisherman's Plea", which he said would be bigger than the Movement for Change that he used to successfully campaign for a change of the leadership of the United National Congress (UNC) and the eventual change of government.

Warner said he will petition all constituents to demand that the death penalty, which is the law in Trinidad & Tobago, be implemented to hang convicted killers.

His plan is to take the campaign throughout the country, beginning on Saturday with the first meeting in Rio Claro, the place of his birth. Blue jerseys and tee-shirts will be distributed to symbolise the sea and the theme of the campaign.

The MP, who is also the Works and Infrastructure Minister, said killers have no regard for the lives of people. He noted that the victims of the killings were innocent, hardworking men trying to earn a living for themselves and their families.

He said killers didn't think of human rights or the suffering of the little ones when they mercilessly killed the fishermen.

Warner said volunteers would go house-to-house to collect signatures in support of the hanging bill.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced last month that she will bring back a hanging bill to Parliament and seek public support for it.

The bill, which needed a special majority, was defeated last year when the opposition refused to vote for it.

“It is part of the law of Trinidad and Tobago, and therefore the lack of support from the Opposition on the last occasion prevented it from going through and so we will try again because we have to find ways to reduce the crime rate,” she said.

And on January 24, at a rally to celebrate her second anniversary as leader of the UNC she challenged Opposition Leader Keith Rowley to explain why he and his MPs refused to support the legislation while they continue to claim that they support the execution of convicted killers.

She publicly called on Rowley for support. "Let us have your proposals, because we are willing to consider them in the public’s interest. We are committed to implementing the death penalty because it is the law,” she told supporters.

Commenting on Warner's campaign on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said it is his personal venture and not Government policy.

"Mr Warner is on a personal campaign; it is not a policy position taken by the Government to embark on such a campaign, so you may want to ask him more about that issue," Persad-Bissessar told reporters who asked her about the campaign.

However, she said her Government remains committed to continue its thrust to resume hangings in the country.

She has said the Opposition's decision to not support the hanging bill, which they said was flawed, will not stop the Government from pressing forward on the matter.