The 18 inmates on death row, who are under the five-year timeline of the Pratt and Morgan landmark case, cannot be hanged since they have appeals ongoing.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar indicated this following yesterday’s Cabinet meeting at the Red House in Port-of-Spain.
Persad-Bissessar said that on the campaign trail, she had indicated that the United National Congress had intended to resume hangings or carry out the death penalty. She said she had asked the Ministers of Homeland Security, Justice, Defence and the Attorney General to provide an update on the possibility of resuming this.
Persad-Bissessar said she was told the number of inmates on Death Row as of May 10, 2025, was 38.
Of these 38, only 18 are eligible to be hanged if it is accepted that these 18 have been sentenced to death and are yet under the five-year timeline established in the Pratt and Morgan case established by the Privy Council.
“So that it’s only these 18 condemned inmates under the five-year timeline - the other 20 are over the five-year timeline through having appeals pending. In terms of how many condemned inmates can face the Death Penalty - or have it carried out at this time- that is to say, who among the 18 can have a death warrant legally read out to be executed, unfortunately or fortunately for some the answer is - none, given the state of the law,” Persad- Bissessar added.
Of the 18 condemned inmates, one has an appeal pending before the Privy Council, and the other 17 have appeals pending before the local appellate court.
"It can be said, therefore, that until these appeals are heard, the Death Penalty cannot lawfully be carried out at this time - even amongst the 18,” she said.
"So the answer is - how many at this time - the answer is as I said, fortunately or unfortunately - none. "
The Prime Minister said she would ask the Attorney General to address whether or not action can be taken to expedite the appeals.
