Prime Minister Hon. Timothy Harris
Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 15, 2016 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis has not carried out the death penalty since 2008, but the law remains on the books and the Government stands ready to carry out the decisions of the court, said Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
“We all are in favour in allowing the law to speak,” Dr. Harris said at a recent town hall meeting in Sandy Point.
His statement was prompted following a question by a member of the audience about the use of capital punishment, which the Constitution allows in cases of treason and murder. “I have no objection to that.
The Attorney General [Honourable Vincent Byron] has no objection to that. We must uphold the law,” Dr. Harris stated. The Prime Minister, however said it was his wish that there was no need for the death penalty to be implemented.
He added that society should discipline itself, particularly parents with their child (ren) as they raise youth to be positive citizens.
However, Dr. Harris, who is also the Minister of National Security, reaffirmed that his Government is guided by the rule of law and good governance, and that the Cabinet does support the law of the land with respect to capital punishment.
Charles LaPlace was the last person to be executed on order of the court. He was condemned for violently killing his wife with a knife.