Hanging debate stalled

The long anticipated debate on the death penalty stalled in parliament yesterday.



The debate stalled shortly after it begun with the emphasis shifting from the retention or rejection of capital punishment to preservation or shedding of ties with the London based Privy Council.



The debate was suspended after four presentations with both sides agreeing to meet and arrive at a position before restarting the crucial debate.



Senior opposition parliamentarian, Robert Pickersgill called for a controversial amendment to the constitution, which did not go down well with the government.



He argued that the opposition was not willing to participate further in the debate if the government did not accept the amendment.



Prime Minister Bruce Golding who had opened the debate earlier accused the opposition of trying to use the proposed amendment to abolish the Privy Council.



Government MPs Laurie Broderick and Daryl Vaz were in support of the death penalty while their colleague Gregory Mair said he would vote against it.