FEBAAO/4
CONFIDENTIAL
Given the state of public opinion there is no prospect of persuading the territories to pass local legislation to
abolish capital punishment and an attempt to instruct
Governors in those territories where they are able to use
their reserved powers to force through such legislation
would spark fierce local controversy and break the
relationship of trust between the Governor and his local
Ministers.
Scope
5.
I propose to take action by a single Order in Council applying to the five Caribbean Dependent Territories (Anguilla, BVI, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and TCI). We have no powers to include Bermuda in the Order but action there can be deferred (C of Annex). As for Hong Kong, I do not propose action for the reasons also set out in the
Annex.
Timing
6. The need for action was always pressing and remains
SO now. In Anguilla, the Governor has undertaken to place the case of Joseph Paul, condemned to death last June, before his Executive Committee during the week beginning 18 February. Opinion on the island is unaninmous that Paul (a Grenadian who murdered a fellow
Grenadian) should hang, and there are no mitigating
circumstances which would otherwise justify the Governor commuting. Secondly, the Chief Minister to the British Virgin Islands, Mr Lavity Stoutt, who is to visit the UK on 7 March expects a reply to a letter which he wrote to
in December asking whether it is HMG's intention to
me
/proceed
CONFIDENTIAL