Amnesty International Meets The Attorney General
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan met with a delegation from Amnesty International led by Ms. Chiara Sangiorgio at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday October 3, 2013. Other members of the delegation included newly appointed Chairperson of the Greater Caribbean for Life, Ms. Leela Ramdeen and Mrs. Nicole Sylvester, Assistant Secretary of the Greater Caribbean for Life, Attorney at law and President of the Human Rights Association in St. Vincent. The meeting was part of Amnesty’s promotion of International Awareness for World Day against the death penalty (October 10) with special focus on the Caribbean region.
The Attorney General took the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue on matters of mutual concern including the protection and preservation of Human Rights, police brutality and the need for improved efficiency in the criminal justice system. Mr. Ramlogan noted that the death penalty was part of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago but highlighted the significant attempt by the Government to improve the current law by introducing categories of murder.
The death penalty would be reserved for the most heinous and evil of murders without any extenuating circumstances. That Bill was rejected due to a lack of support from the Opposition.
He agreed that there was a greater need for public awareness or a public education campaign on the very emotional and sensitive issue of the death penalty which the majority of the population appeared to support.
He urged the delegation to consider the rights of the victims as part of their deliberations and discussions to ensure that it is properly factored into the agenda for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Attorney General stated that whilst many positive studies have been made for the protection and preservation of human rights, there is room for improvement and to this end, he welcomed the visit by this distinguished delegation.
Dated: OCTOBER 4, 2013
MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO