Human rights group against death penalty

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association is opposing the mandatory death penalty sentence for persons convicted of capital murder on the island.



Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told Parliament that is the new draft constitution is adopted at the end of a referendum in November; it would restore the death penalty and insulate it from further assaults by judges.



The group’s president Nicole Sylvester says having the death penalty is not in keeping with evolving standards of human rights around the world.



She describes the proposal as a regressive step in today’s day and age.



Under draft constitution a distinction is made between capital murder for which you must have the death penalty and non-capital murder.