- Norman GrindleyPeople's National Party supporters show their excitement yesterday during the second day of the PNP's 62nd annual conference held at the National Arena. The conference ends today.
Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson, yesterday issued a warning to human rights organisations and overseas Governments that, despite their "pressuring and condemning us," laws allowing capital punishment, and those making homosexuality illegal, will be upheld in Jamaica.
Less than an hour after he was returned unopposed as president of the People's National Party (PNP) on the second day of its 62nd annual conference, held at the National Arena in Kingston, Mr. Patterson vowed to carry out the laws of the land.
"As long as the situation in Jamaica is as it is, the Parliament of the land has passed a law saying that there is capital punishment for those kinds of cases, and that law will be upheld," Mr. Patterson said.
He also told party delegates and observers that, "under my watch and under the People's National Party, we have no intention whatsoever of changing those laws" that make homosexuality illegal.
In what he described as a heart-to-heart talk with his comrades, and pointing fingers directly at the United Kingdom Government and Privy Council, for the commutation of the death sentences of six convicted murderers, Mr. Patterson blasted the Privy Council for its decision to commute the sentences of six death row inmates.
"Look at what the Privy Council decided last week in respect of an appeal for six people on death row. They have torn up the law books literally, they have reversed the decision that they gave two years ago," he said.
Previously, inhumane prison conditions were not considered as argument for the commutation of the sentences. However, it was taken into consideration in the ruling, which was made public last week. The ruling, four-to-one in favour of the condemned Jamaicans, which included Neville Lewis, who was convicted in 1994 for the killing of Kingston businessman and golf consultant Vic Higgs, also commuted the sentences of Patrick Taylor, Anthony McLeod, Chris-topher Brown, Desmond Taylor and Steve Shaw.
The PNP president said the Privy Council's decision will be further discussed by party bosses tomorrow, following which he expects additional decisions on the issue to be made. He called on the support of party faithful.
"We are going to be discussing the matter at Cabinet on Monday," said Mr. Patterson. "We will have to take some far-reaching decisions. And when we take them, I want the People's National Party to back them," Mr. Patterson said to thunderous applause from party delegates.
Challenging his critics who argue that the Government has no respect for human rights, he said: "I respect human rights...against poverty...ignorance...disease...shelter and hunger...and also for the victims, families and communities."
