No rush for death penalty: PM

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PRIME Minister James Marape says the Government is in no rush to implement the death penalty without a proper nationwide consultation.
“The people must have a voice on what happens in the 11th parliament next year,” he told The National.
“We need to sit and discuss constitutional issues such as the death penalty, the Vagrancy Act and national sovereign issues like Bougainville.
“The death penalty is part of our laws but the implementation has constitutional issues and I am in no rush to implement it.
“There are many lobbying against the implementation of the death penalty and it is one of a series of laws we have to revisit to determine its relevance.”
There are 14 inmates on death row nationwide with two prisoners released.
Six of the 12 prisoners are serving in Kerevat prison in Gazelle, East New Britain.
The other six are serving in Bomana prison outside Port Moresby.
Justice Minister Bryan Kramer told The National earlier that the death penalty needed to be reviewed because it was a contentious issue as “we claim to be a Christian nation”.
“Marape has raised similar concerns,” he said.
“Given our Christian values and beliefs, we will surely need to review the issue.
“A research will be done on whether the death penalty has resulted in a reduction or prevention of serious crimes.”
Marape said: “We must have a proper and effective system in place first to tackle crime.
“There is no rush for the death penalty and the method of execution is the delay in the implementation of the death penalty.
Former justice minister and attorney-general Davis Steven had told The National last year that the issue of death penalty before the National Executive Council (NEC) was the mode of execution.
“The NEC will review the law that imposes and recognises this penalty.