Trinidad and Tobago Moves Gallows, Sparks Execution Debate

In the process of decommissioning the Port of Spain Prison, government officials have confirmed the relocation of the gallows to a modern facility. The move is said to maintain readiness for executions under Trinidad and Tobago law where capital punishment is still a legal mandate. This has sparked renewed debate about the country possibly resuming hangings after a long pause. Death penalty by hanging is the mandatory sentence for murder under the country’s law. Despite global calls for its abolition, no law yet repeals it. The gallows’ relocation is seen as an infrastructure continuity, not a new law or policy. However, it symbolizes a government ready to reassert capital punishment. For hangings to restart, all appeals must be exhausted within a 5-year window as per the Privy Council ruling. The move may align with a wider tough-on-crime stance. The installation of the gallows raises questions about readiness checks, cost transparency, rights safeguards, public consultation, and possible strain on international relations. While no executions have been carried out in over two decades, the readiness of a new execution facility suggests that the death penalty is still a part of the government’s crime strategy.