President Dr. Irfaan Ali has expressed support for examining the use of the death penalty for heinous crimes, saying stronger punishment must be considered following the death of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran.
Responding to questions about the Berbice case, Ali described the incident as atrocious and said crimes of that nature demanded serious consideration of measures beyond imprisonment.
“The death penalty is something that we have to look at. If we want to really send a strong signal, I believe that, you know, we really need to look at this,” the President said.
Asked directly whether the stronger punishment he had in mind was the death penalty, Ali replied: “One hundred percent.”
His comments followed the recovery of Orlando’s decomposed body from a canal near the sea dam at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, early Tuesday. The child had been reported missing on October 14.
Police identified his father, Bharrat Jaikarran, as the main suspect. The father had allegedly confessed to killing the child, while Region Five Commander, Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Whithrite, confirmed that information provided by him led investigators to the body. The reported confession has not been tested in court.
Ali said the case had weighed heavily on him and that he had requested a careful examination of responses to heinous crimes, including outstanding matters involving people who had committed offences of an “unthinkable nature”.
He acknowledged that consideration of capital punishment raised human rights concerns.
“We are, of course, very cognisant of the human rights issues and challenges,” he said. “We have always kept our development and our thoughts within the confines of human rights.”
Nevertheless, the President argued that some crimes struck at the foundations of society and required a response that clearly demonstrated such conduct would not be tolerated.
He stressed that the judicial process must take its course.
“Of course, the judicial system has to work. But when the judicial system works and we have crimes like these, we must be able to utilise a stronger measure if we are to send a stronger signal to society,” Ali said.
When asked whether he meant a stronger measure than jail time, the President responded: “Of course.”
Ali said he had received numerous messages and read public comments calling for tougher punishment. He added that his own position was that a stronger response should be seriously considered.
“And I personally believe that a stronger signal should be sent also,” he said.
