JUNIOR MINISTER for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr Ronald Robinson, says Jamaica could be denied developmental support from some countries opposed to the death penalty because of its move to retain capital punishment.

Robinson said yesterday that despite the possible backlash from countries that provide aid to Jamaica, the State should move decisively to carry out the death penalty.

Contribution to debate

He was making his contribution in the Senate to the debate on whether to retain or abolish the death penalty.

"In the foreign ministry that I am attached to, we understand the ramifications of the retention of the death penalty," Robinson said.

"In fact, I will say, there are countries that have made it quite clear what they will do if we were to retain it (death penalty) in terms of donors, accessing aid development, etc."

Robinson argued that the first duty of any government or parliament was to ensure that citizens of the state were protected.

Violent deaths

His comment came as his colleague Senator Arthur Williams, participating in the same debate, pointed out that at least 1,543 persons have died violently since January.

Robinson said he has worked in inner cities and has observed how these communities organise themselves in terms of social services, security and how they provide justice in their own way.

"The area dons in their communities, they have their own constituents, almost a state within a state. They dispense justice, they give social services and, in a funny way, you have to admire their leadership styles in a lot of ways because they are very decisive and they are very bold; they make a decision and they stick by it," he said.

Of the eight senators who participated in the debate yesterday, three have given a clear indication that they are against hanging, while the same number supported the move.

Security minister against death penalty

Among those who want the death penalty removed from Jamaican law is National Security Minister, Colonel Trevor MacMillan.

"I wish to place on record before this honourable Senate my unequivocal rejection of the proposal to resume the use of the death penalty in Jamaica," he said.

MacMillan contended that the death penalty would never serve as a guarantee to lower the rate of crime.

Leader of government business in the Senate Dorothy Lightbourne sought to present a balanced view on the controversial matter. However, she did not divulge her position on hanging.

Respect retentionist views

Her opposition counterpart, A.J. Nicholson, declared that, despite his position as an "abolitionist", he was bound to respect the views of those he described as retentionists.

Nicholson told his colleagues that as long as the death penalty remained on the law books, as a legislator, he was obliged to "see to the carrying out of the law".

Government Senator Dwight Nelson, who declared himself "a good Roman Catholic", said he supported hanging, a decision which conflicts with the position of his church.

The only current legislator whose child was killed brutally, Nelson said he subscribed to the view that the murderer should be punished for his actions.

The Lower House voted recently to retain the death penalty.