'Hang dem Delroy'; Montague insists on capital punishment for children who kill

Backbencher Robert Montague did not relent with his sotto voce comments to hang children who kill until they were registered over the microphone as Justice Minister Delroy Chuck opened the debate on penalties for capital and non-capital murders in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. 

“Hang dem Delroy,” the former Cabinet minister repeatedly said as Chuck argued that harsher penalties must be set for murderers. 

Chuck opened the debate on the report submitted by the Joint Select Committee of Parliament which reviewed the Criminal Justice Administrative Amendment Act 2023, the Offences Against the Person Act 2023 and the Childcare and Protection Act 2023, telling colleague legislators that the country had, over the last 20 years, recorded in excess of a thousand murders annually. 

Chuck said that the committee wrestled with the idea of the sentences for children, noting that they are of tender age and need help and are to be given special considerations. 

“But the truth of the matter is these children 14 to 17 are committing some serious crimes and they are killing children of a similar age and even adults. The question is if this Parliament fails to send a signal that these children should have a harsh penalty, if we fail to do that, I urge, the families of the victims will feel they got no justice,” Chuck said, adding that they will find “ways and means” to retaliate. 

But while Chuck argued why the sentences for young murderers must send a strong message, Montague called for them to be hung in an off-mic comment. 

“No, we are not going to hang them,” Chuck rebutted. 

But Montague doubled down on his position. 

“I'll be the first to tell you I don't believe in hanging,” Chuck responded. 

However, Montague fired back, “well yuh only a waste yuh time then,” repeating it several times. 

Later on, Montague opened his microphone, against the speaker's wishes, telling the House that he has strong views and that murderers must be hung. 

He mic was subsequently muted. 

- Kimone Francis

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