TNAG-0601-FCO40-749-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 65

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CONFIDENTIAL

NOTE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY

1. The Committee is intended to represent a cross-section of the community in Bermuda. It is appointed by the Governort after consultation with the Prime Minister. The Governor is not bound by constitution to accept the advice of the Committee; but in the light of the long history of internal self-government in Bermuda, the Governor would not normally act in defiance of the clearly expressed views of the Committee, unless he thought there was an evident miscarriage of justice.

2.

The members of the Committee who considered the Burrows/ Tacklyn case were:-

Mr G D M Collett QC, Attorney General (ex-officio): English born and educated. Attorney General since 1973, having previously served as Solicitor General and Attorney General in the Bahamas;

The Hon E W P Vesey, Minister of Education:

A white Bermudian. Educated in Bermuda, the USA and England (LSE). A member of the Bermuda House of Assembly since 1963 and a Government Minister since 1972;

The Hon H Richardson OBE; Vice-President of the Legislative Council:

A founder member and former Chairman of the Opposition Progressive Labour Party. A coloured Bermudian. A leading sportsman and a garage proprietor, who is generally respected for his moderate views;

Mr J A Pearman, Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for prisons:

A white Bermudian. Educated at Oxford. A member of the House of Assembly since 1972. A lawyer;

Dr M Bean Ph.D., a retired educationalist who remains very active in such bodies as the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Bermuda Arts Society:

A black Bermudian, and the only woman on the Committee;

Dr V John, a dentist:

A black Bermudian.

CONFIDENTIAL