The Commissioner also gave his opinion on the death penalty. As we have reported Belizean Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith and British attorney Parvais Jabbar of the Death Penalty Project are trying to get it taken off the books in Belize. They say it's only logical because no one has been hanged for 40 years and no one has been put on the death penalty for 20 years.
So even though it is still on the books, the evolution in jurisprudence won't see any judges sentencing anyone to death.
The Commissioner said he agrees it should be taken off the books:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The truth is as much as many may not believe I am opposed to the death penalty I don't believe in it that's my personal opinion but I do agree with the attorneys that the way how the system works and if we look at the case of Captain Morgan out at Jamaica that went to the privy council which has now set the foundation and we see that even the CCJ is adapting that same route that the privy council took in Pratt and Morgan I don't foresee us being able to execute the death penalty in Belize because by the time the person would have exhausted all legal options they would have already surpassed the five years mark. At which point the privy council then said that if you execute a person after five days which is tantamount to cruel and inhumane treatment so i don't foresee it happening in Belize No."
Reporter-
"So we should take it off."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well my opinion I don't believe in it and it's a matter for parliament to decide if they want to take it off."
