We asked and 1,254 of you answered.
The subject was capital punishment and 929 or 74 percent of those who responded support it. The other quarter – 26 percent or 325 – voted against it.
In Dominica the subject remains a touchy matter, as most believe the public’s opinion is clouded with emotions brought on by the spike in criminal activities and malicious killings across the island.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, in what seemed to be an indication of consideration, had said that public opinion and the international human rights doctrine were critical to any decisions on the matter.
Dominica News Online’s poll ran 36 days. Our website was accessed over 10 millions times within that period with 50,000 unique visitors, over 70 percent of which were on the island.
The number of respondents compared with the level of traffic is a clear indication of how sensitive the subject really is, as the vast majority chose to ignore the options all together.
Some time ago Prime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit had announced that there was a point in his leadership when he had called for capital punishment but was met with hostility from the general public.
“I was heavily criticized by the same public who is now calling for it,” he said.
The death penalty is being called for here to serve, in some form, as a deterrent for criminal activities even though international surveys of territories where execution is actually in force shows that it really is not a restrictive.
In a panel discussion on crime initiated by students of the Journalism Club of the Dominica State College (DSC), Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste confirmed the statistics.
She suggested more proven crime prevention methods like education and youths being injected into the right social clubs.
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the killing of a person by judicial process as a punishment for an offense. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences.
Frederick Newton, the head of the Dominica Defense Force (DDF), is the only person to have been executed by Dominica as an independent state. He was executed in 1986 for organizing an attempted coup d’état in 1981 that resulted in the death of a police officer.
He was hanged in Roseau.
NOTE: The current poll on DNO asks for you to vote for your favourite local news media personality.
Prime Minister Skerrit may have been reconsidering the government position regarding the death penalty as a result of the UN Human Rights Council’s “Universal Periodic Review” of Dominica in December 2009 http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/Recommendations_to_Dominica_2009.pdf
The report and process is impressive, and a shining model of the international community working toward an ever-advancing civilization. All those who care about Dominica would do well to read it.
The recommendation to abolish the death penalty was one of only 2 which did not enjoy Dominica’s support. (51 accepted, 8 under consideration, 2 rejected)
Interestingly, in that same UPR report, Dominica DID accept Argentina’s recommendation to “consider a moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty, as a step towards completely abolishing it.”
Facts:
— Most western democracies have abolished the death penalty
— The death penalty is inequitable
— The death penalty costs more than life imprisonment
— Statistically, the death penalty does NOT DETER crime; the murder rate in US states which have abolished the death penalty is lower than that in states still using it
Jesus did not die for some sinners. He died for all. And He urged us to “Love your enemies.” Through Muhammad comes the guidance to “Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo!, he between whom and you there was enmity shall become as though he were a bosom friend.” From the Baha’i Faith we could learn “If others hurl their darts against you, offer them milk and honey in return; if they poison your lives, sweeten their souls; if they injure you, teach them how to be comforted; if they inflict a wound upon you, be a balm to their sores; if they sting you, hold to their lips a refreshing cup.”
Justice is a radiant light, and those who have caused harm must be appropriately punished. Leaders have a responsibility to both protect vulnerable people and address the causes of crime. But unless we believe that EVERY PERSON, whether murderer or not, is redeemable and must have the chance to be redeemed, there is no real gospel. Depriving a person of the possibility of reconciliation with God and humanity is the real tragedy of capital punishment.
I would like to say that it is so fine to know that someone reminisced this. Once I had a hard time finding similar info in another place.
We have to accept it at least crime will drop mabe 75 % i believe that the criminals will think twice
before commuting their act..
@<a href="#co@Muslim_Always: ment-96204″>FED UP DOMINICAN:
people the death penalty not going help let me tell u all what needs to be done to cut down the murder rate in dominica (imagine u or your children walking in town seeing someone with no hands none at all u must be curious when ask how come u lost both of your hands someone i kill pause tell me that must and i say must cut down the murder rate to almost zero and even other crime now u may think im talkin nonesense but at the pace we are right now capital punish not goin to stop them some people may not even hear they hang someone for murder now wen i say cut both han ds from the court to the hosipital back to sociaty hands free im writing that and i im afraid)
now the table have turn.all the people that was pointing fingers about the young lady they say killed her kids wanted the dead penalty.now they talking about the innocent ones.kill is kill when i look at it but u can’t tell people what to do.those of u who call wolf u get it now.stop pointing fingers.i am not voting for dead penalty nor am i voting against it.u wanted that u get it.what people in d/ca don’t realize is that dominican like myself living abroad reading all the comment on DNO.so before u say certain tings please consider what to say first.LET THE MAN WILL NO SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE.
@FED UP DOMINICAN: I totally agree with what you say.
The death penalty was renounced once and it cannot be allowed to be reinstated. Wasn’t it a colonialist penalty to punish anyone who retaliated against their rule?
@William McLawrence: He sleeps well at nights??” Don’t let them fool You” Bro.Bob
No scoring of cheap political points.Seems like The cap fit man so let them wear it.When I threw my corn I was not calling any fowls. Bro Bob again.
Who is going to apply for the job of hangman. There should be a long list of applications, as there is a job shortage in Dominica.
Capital punishment does NOT stop crime. Check out America, they still use the electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection and they still produce serial killers.
Lets not forget that innocent people are often found guilty.
Also will the death penalty apply to women as well, or haven’t we thought that far forward.
@unsolved mystery: innocent people are sometimes found guilty because of certain circumstances… do you think justice is served if you kill and innocent person.
@dominican: YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO USE PARTS OF THE BIBLE TO JUSTIFY NONSENSE… MAYBE YOU DONT EVEN WHICH BIBLE SAID THAT AND FROM WHAT BOOK.
THOU SHALL NOT KILL IS FOR US ALL INCLUDING THE STATE
href=”#comment-95692″>Prophet2: it true u should not kill but the bible say when the left hand offend u cut it off , for example that young man that kill the man in glanvillia she should be hbe gone first , to teach the others a leason
I almost lost my friend to 3 hoodlums who attacked him, he almost lost his life for no reason, so bring back the death penalty, once the person/ persons are found guilty
Devoted Dominican! You say it all, i couldn’t say it better
i hope thoes who are in favor of the death penalty are will to take the job and won’t be the ones crying down the government when there relatives are invole
@alright: You sound like a brain washed American junkie.
wel that’s expected form a muslim, they hate in the jname of allah they kill in the name of allah. you should hear them chanting in the streets about cutting the throats of jews. first comes satruday then comes sunday. kill all jews and christians is’nt that the plan.
In countries where the justice system is fear to all, capital punishment is wonderful. However, in a place like DA where justice for all is a far- fetch- thing it would be a calamity to attempt to to implement capital punishment. In my opinion, when the PM for example feels that he is above the law and can do anything knowing that no even the constitution can stop him, then how can there be justice for all? When persons with money and political affiliation and power know they can pay the court and legal system to influence evidence, then persons without such luck are almost forced to take the law in their own hands.
Think of the case of Bubbles. He got very close to shotting. Can you imagine a good man like Bubbles being hung if he had indeed pulled the triger and capital punishment were in place? Now who would have caused all that? Sadly, it would have been the elected PM who does not respect the law of the land and feels that he is above the law.
When we can get DA back to the DA of old, where our politial leaders, police officers, the justice system, the clergy and others clean up their crookedness and lead by example then such law would be good. But we need to clean up first.
@Equal Justice /hang dem high: Don’t get too emotional…scoring cheap political points won’t work for you. He sleeps well at night. God bless whoever you are.
how can u guys want death penalty when the polive men wi have in Dominica dont even do their job right eh
we cry for blood. is this how good, loving people should act? we claim that the bible or god/allah justifies the taking of life. but do we even think for ourselves and see the fallacy in that statement?
the justice system and the police force here are broken, we all know that. yet we want to give them more power. why?
do we even stop to realize who this apparent call for blood will affect? none of us are immune to falling into this net. what crimes allow the state to kill someone? do we have such a high murder rate that we so desperately need to call for blood of the supposed murderers? is it that bad here?
what about all the supposed christian virtues that we tout on a daily? i am no christian, yet i see this call for blood as nothing but bad news. it will not improve things. it will only make things worse.
If the death penalty is instituted in Dominica, I can only pray that God will continue to be the top Judge at the trial of an accused murderer. And so, by His power and authority fair justice will be executed.
Dominicans are believed to be a God fearing people, according to our National Anthem. But people develop with their own minds. The person who has the mind to commit murder, does not live with the mind controlled by conscience. His/her conduct takes the Life of another person, but he/she, unless with the desire to repent, destroyed himself/herself through that conduct. In that case, death penalty or not, that person would have lived, or continue to live a life of perish. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life.
@William McLawrence: Begining with our white colar crimminals. Let’s start with the lawyers.There are some who have so much property derived from poor people who could not meet their legal costs, they had to fork out their titles to these scumbag lawyers. After the lawyers ,we go for the politicians, gov’t like opposition. Their will be no lawyers to defend them so it will be an easy walk inthe park. Then we go for the parasites the ambassadors P.S’s even the retired short ones(smile) those who served as P.S in two ministries at once and charging large sums then use their insider knowledge to be consultants for firms(D/can Lobbists) You know any?Then we come for you.You who change party like underwear and socks. Yes you don’t try to hide We know who you are.
Even those opportunist who are mentally ill the sometimes schizophrenics in high opportunistic positions.Hang them high
Mr. Mann get a life. If Ur daughter was raped and killed how would u feel?what would u do?what would u want done to the accuse? Muslim_always i agree with u. ENFORCE THE DEATH PENALTY EVEN FOR A FIVE YR PERIOD LETS TRY IT.
Mr.Mann get a life. Muslim_always i agree with u. ENFORCE THE DEATH PENALTY IN DA…ENFORCE IT. AT LEAST TRY IT FOR A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. Put the murderers to death. Mr.Mann if someone had rape and kill your daughter how wud u feel?what would u do?
Growing up as a little girl we always had the death penality, why we ca’nt have it again the people in Dominica, that like to pick up a gun after their own people will think twice before they kill again, and get away with it i want the Gov to bring it back let Dominicans have some peace in their own country.
i am so ashamed when i have to read the news and reading about how many murders taking place in my country i want to come home to build but i am so afarid, our country was never like that you could say hello to your next door people but now you do not know if you can,
So many things are happening drugs, greed, back biteing, ect.
Mr Prime Minister just bring hanging back they must learn one way or the other
“Thou shalt not kill.”
“Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord”. Are those who take the life of a criminal, as guilty as the criminal is, in the eyes of the Lord?
please mr prime minister put the capital punishment the bible speake about it so
it can be put in action,” NOW I SAY NOW’!!!!!!!!
thou shall kill all those that kill saith the LORD.
is right all them killers you take alife we go take yours back for the life yo have taken
It is a tough one, though. While some of you are zealously routing for the death penalty, you should remember that innocent people can be caught in that trap and that no one, including you or any family member, are not immune to that. So becareful what you support; You might be signing your own or your family’s death trap.
Just my penny haypney.
HANG THIER ………………..!!!! FOR THE SAKE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE !!!
i think hanging is not the answer. no one no what can happen to them or there family in the longer run.. something can happen to u and u may end up killing the person.. do u want somebody to kill u if u kill someone ? do u want someone to kill your family if the kill someone? lets see about that .LEARN TO FORGIVE let God do what he have to do
i see it as if someone has to hang the person that kill someone,the person that hang the murder has to get hanged as well. because they killed someone and it goes on until dominica has no one.
@Muslim_Always:
The irony of your statement
WELL THE WAY DELINCUENTES HAS IT , THEY CAN KILL AND THEIR JAIL CEL ALREADY MARKED…THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED FULL, BRING BACK THE CATOLINE IN THEIR TALE IF THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS DOESNT COME THROUGH..SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE OR ELSE SOCIETY IN DOMINICA AS WE KNOW WILL BECOME A LIL HAVEN FOR RISING DEATH TOLL..NEED MY SAF COMMUNITY BACK., DNT WANT TO WALK IN FEAR ABROAD AND COME HOME TO THE SAME NONESENSE..I KNOW WITH DEVELOPMENT COMES CHANGE BUT WE NEED TO ACT ON THIS CRIME SPREE….IF THEY ARE GUILTY LET THEM PAY….
I say hang them, Mr Prime Minister.
Money laundering; fraud; those few persons, politicians and other Public Officials, who acquire huge assets while in public Office; secret deals for profit making while in Public Office; stealing of people’s money from our treasury; covert, big drug dealers; Not disclosing ones huge personal assets and placing them falsely in the ownership of a friend or family member to cover up, as well as many more activities being committed apart from just the Stabbings and Shootings are also criminal and illegal.
Those activities are certainly against the Laws of the land. But what has been happening in Dominica? Those High Repute people in HIGH PLACES are protected one way or the other and surround themselves with those who work feverishly to protect them against the law by all means possible. There are those in our INSTITUTIONS responsible for investigating, monitoring illegal acts and administering justice who support the Status Quo and protect their companeros from being brought to justice.
Are not those serious criminal activities also responsible for crippling a country and retarding its economic and Social Development? Do you all remember the massive Pyramid Schemes, FRAUD and other corrupt practices that caused the Global FINANCIAL crisis recently?
The country must put the mechanisms in place, respect and act according to the Laws, and bring to justice also those in High Places who commit all kinds of crimes. WRONG is WRONG is WRONG IRRESPECTIVE of who does it. JUSTICE FOR ONE SHOULD BE JUSTICE FOR ALL. Who fill up the jails in StockFarm? Only one class of people. NEVER The ‘ELITE CLASS, the GROS BOURGS’
Spontaneous solutions, just implementing Corporal Punishment, without a well though out, sustainable, holistic approach to the solution of all criminal activities, will never, REPEAT will never solve all the criminal problems taking place in Dominica. TRUST ME.
if u kill in first degree cold blood, you should receive death penalty period!!
I do not support the death penalty or capital punishment as a crime fight tool because statistics abound which show that it does not work.
However, there are time when situations get out of hand and there is a need to put a lid on it. The recent spike in criminal activity in Dominica is a prime example of such a scenario. Maybe then the death penalty could be considered for the most violent of criminals.
Leaders all over the world has let their crime situation get out of hand and then try to use the death penalty to bring it under control. It just doesn’t work. Put a lid on the situation before it get out of hand with some tough measures and subsequently capital punishment won’t become necessary.
While capital punishment is a good consideration, other things need to be considered. The justice system on a whole in Dominica obviously needs restructuring. People being let go because of no evidence, collection of evidence is not effective and it seems every one has their own version of the law. Therefore, there needs to be a reformation of the laws and ways of administering justice, not only capital punishment!
If a person kills another in self defense or in the process of defending their family and their love ones then consideration should be given to them in this juncture. But if a person kills another just for the joy of killing as most Dominicans do, then i say, (HANG THEM HIGH) for those who take a life for selfish reasons should be willing to sacrifice their own. There were six or seven murders committed in Dominica a few weeks ago, and none of them were committed in self defense. Dominicans, do you know who pays for those crimes? everyone of you, for the rest of the world is watching and saying this is not a safe place to visit. Also those who it effects the most are the victims families and friends. For if the criminals are allowed to go unpunished as the now do, then they are just going to return on the streets and will kill again. Is this what you all want? (NO) then please help protect your families and friends from the hands of those vicious animals by taking them out off the midst of society.
thats Major Frederick C Newton – my hero
Now that the results of the poll are out what’s the next move. While I have reservations about the Death Penalty I believe due to the rising and apparently uncontrolable crime rate some considerations must be given to the reintrodcution of the Death Penalty. I do hope that this will deter some persons from getting involved in crimminal activity.
Capital Punishment at this time would be a very terrible thing since the legal system, police force, and people in top positions are so corrupt these days and justice is so on demand in Dominica. I think the lack of justice, our corrupt leaders and people’s lack of hope and a future must bee seen have the key reason why crime is on the rise in Dominica. So at this time, since the justice system is so corrupt and unable to give justice to those who deserve it, it would be a BIG CRIME to have capital punishment.
Good, I hope the death penalty is enforced. To heck with the ‘International community or human rights’ they are not God!