PUBLICAI Index: AMR 49/03/99

18 May 1999

Further information on EXTRA 61/99 (AMR 49/02/99, 14 May 1999) - Death Penalty

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Dole Chadee, also known as Nankissoon Boodram

Joey Ramiah

Joel Ramsingh

Ramkalawan Singh

Russell Sankeralli

Bhagwandeen Singh

Clive Thomas

Robin Gopaul

Stephen Eversley

The nine men named above have been granted stays of execution until 26 May 1999 by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC - Trinidad and Tobago’s highest appeal court, located in London). The government of Trinidad and Tobago had scheduled the men to be hanged on 18, 19 and 20 May 1999.

On 26 May the JCPC will continue hearings to consider whether the men’s executions should be postponed until a final decision has been made by the courts on a constitutional motion filed by another man under sentence of death in Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Briggs. Anthony Briggs’s motion challenges the constitutionality of hanging as a method of execution, claiming it is a cruel and unusual punishment.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please continue to send telegrams / telexes / faxes / express / airmail letters in English or in your own language:

- urging the government of Trinidad and Tobago to commute the death sentences of Dole Chadee, also called Nankissoon Boodram, Joey Ramiah, Joel Ramsingh, Ramkalawan Singh, Russell Sankeralli, Bhagwandeen Singh, Clive Thomas, Robin Gopaul and Stephen Eversley;

- expressing sympathy for the victims of violent crime and their relatives but stating that in many cases when a person convicted of murder has been executed by the state, the family of the victim have stated that the execution did nothing to alleviate their feelings of anger and loss;

- pointing out that the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, which violates the right to life and has a brutalizing effect on all involved in its application;

- urging the government to commute the sentences of all those sentenced to

death in Trinidad and Tobago, and, as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty, to propose and enact legislation which would create non-

capital penalties for murder.

APPEALS TO:

Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Basdeo Panday, Office of the Prime Minister

Level 19, Central Bank Tower, Eric Williams Plaza, Independence Square

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Telegrams: Prime Minister, Port of Spain, Trinidad/Tobago

Faxes: +1 868 627 3444

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Attorney General, The Hon. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Ministry of the Attorney General, Winsure Building, 24-28 Richmond Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Telegrams: Attorney General, Port of Spain, Trinidad/Tobago

Faxes: +1 868 625 0470 or 6530

Salutation: Dear Attorney General

COPIES TO:

Minister of National Security, Senator The Hon. Joseph Theodore, Ministry of National Security, 18 Knox Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Faxes: + 1 868 627 8044

The President, The Hon. Arthur Napoleon Robinson, President of the Republic

The President’s House, Circular Road, St. Ann’s, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Faxes: +1 868 625 7950

and to diplomatic representatives of Trinidad and Tobago accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.