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where the UK Parliament has expressed a clear and consistent view over many years. I would also point to the difficulties we would increasingly face if asked to
secure an extradition to a Dependent Territory where capital punishment remained on the statute book.
12.
In the meantime, while I cannot instruct the
Governors to commute, once Governors have been told of
the course I propose to follow I can reasonably ask them
to defer the implementation of death sentences on the
grounds that abolition in the territories is imminent.
They have already been given an informal indication of my
intentions.
Bermuda
13.
A referendum on capital punishment took place in Bermuda on 30 August. This resulted in a 4:1 majority in favour of retention, though the turnout of 33% was low.
Despite this result it is possible that the Bermuda
Government may decide in the light of the Caribbean Orders to introduce legislation of its own. The Cabinet contains abolitionists, the government majority is relatively slender, and the Opposition are committed to
abolition. But we cannot bank on this. If Bermuda
decided not to take action we would be faced with a
choice between relying on the Governor to commute, or introducing primary legislation in the UK.
14.
Although the present Governor has commuted in two
cases, (and has indicated to me that he intends always to
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/do so)