Opposition votes down death penalty in Trinidad

(Newsday): Trinidad’s opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley rejected changes to the Constitution proposed by the government to enforce hangings but promised to meet Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to draft a better bill. Yesterday in the Lower House, the Opposition stuck to their guns to deny a requisite three-fourths special majority to the Constitution (Amendment) (Capital Offences) Bill 2011. “The Bill has failed. They can reflect on their position and in six months time, they can bring it back,” said Rowley. Complaining of insults from Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, at the committee stage, Rowley rejected Persad-Bissessar’s offer to suspend the sitting to talk.

“The Government’s attitude and behaviour is not what is required in a situation like this,” said Rowley. “If the Government needs Opposition support on a matter like this, you don’t disregard our point of view and then try to bully us into voting.”

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