CONFIDENTIAL
HKS. 38671
RECXT CALLOY NO. 51 13 JAN 1978
DESK UFFIZER/
INDEX
MR STEWART
No
PA
| REGISTRY
Action Taken
@311
ве
разал
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1.
2.
Please refer to Mr Collins' minute of 11 January
On his paragraph 3, the Belize Letters Patent 1964 contain, provisions dealing with the prerogative of mercy. We could certainly delete these provisions, but this would amount to a constitutional amendment. Furthermore, if the Belize Government were minded, they could incorporate powers of pardon in local legislation.
3.
While I agree with Mr Collins that uniformity of approach need not be an over-riding requirement, I still think that we should concentrate on the course of abolishing or suspending the death penalty for murder by legislative means rather than on the course of resorting to the preroga- tive of mercy, which is not a satisfactory alternative.
11 January 1978
cc: PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
Mr Duff (WIAD)
Mr M B Collins (M & CD)
CONFIDENTIAL
A.R.R. А
AR RUSHFORD
DEPUTY LEGAL ADVISER