GRS 732
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM GRAND CAYMAN 121945Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENIAL
/501/1
HW 380 RELAVED IN REGISTRY NO. 41 24 OCT 1977
PA
[ REGISTRY
Acboa Tuken
I
A
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 125 OF 12 AUGUST
YOUR TELNO PERSONAL 76 OF 9 AUGUST TO BELMOPAN AND OTHER
POSTS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1. MY VIEW SUPPORTED BY PREVIOUS OBSERVATIONS ON THE SUBJECT
BY POLITICIANS AND MEMBERS OF CAYMANIAN PUBLIC IS THAT
THERE WOULD BE STRONG ADVERSE REACTION TO ABOLITION
OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CAYMAN ISLANDS. DEATH SENTENCE AT
PRESENT MANDATORY ON CONVICTION FOR MURDER UNDER PENAL
CODE UNLESS CONVICTED PERSON IS UNDER 18 OR IS A
PREGNANT WOMAN,
2. COURSE 3(B) IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO REJECTION
OF A BILL TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY PY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
WHILE GOVERNOR'S RESERVED POWER TO DECLARE THE BILL
TAKE EFFECT AS PASSED UNDER SECTIO 38 OF THE CONSTITUTION
COULD BE EXERCISED THIS WOULD SEVE ELY DAMAGE GOVERNOR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF THE A SEMBLY AND CAYMANIAN PUBLIC AND UNITED KINGDOM RELATIONSHIP W TH THE COLONY.
3. IF COURSE 3(C) OR (D) WERE ADOP ED WITHOUT CONSULTATION
THIS WOULD GIVE SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL OFFENCE. IF THERE
WERE PRIOR CONSULTATION ASSEMBLY WOULD IN ALL LIKE-
LIHOOD REFUSE TO ENDORSE PROPOSALS. END RESULT WOULD BE SEVERE DAMAGE TO RELATIONSHIPS AS FOR COURSE 3(B).
4. COURSE 3(E) IS SEEN AS MORE CUMBERSOME ALTERNATIVE
TO 3(A) AND INVOLVES LONGER DELAY FOR ANNOUNCE-
MENT OF FINAL DECISION TO PERSON UNDER SENTENCE. IT IS STILL PREFERABLE TO 3(B), 3(C) AND 3(D).
CONFIDENT
15. WHILE