AI is concerned about moves to resume executions in Trinidad and Tobago. Five execution warrants have been issued in the past five weeks, all on prisoners who have spent years on death row. Temporary stays have been granted but the government has indicated that further warrants will be issued in the next few weeks. Warrants were issued on 5 November 1992 for Gayman Jurisingh, Faizal Mohammed and Peter Matthews; in the cases of the first two, warrants were issued despite recommendations in 1990 that prisoners under sentence of death for more than 10 years should have the sentences commuted. Death warrants for Brian Francois and Lal Seeratan were issued on 8 December. The expedited procedures used in these cases are placing great pressures on the lawyers concerned.
