Georgetown, Guyana — President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has called for a serious examination of the death penalty as a possible response to particularly heinous crimes, following the death of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
Speaking during an interview with journalist Neil Marks on Tuesday, President Ali described the incident as atrocious and said he had asked Attorney General Anil Nandlall to examine the issue.
The President said the country must consider whether existing penalties adequately reflect the seriousness of extreme crimes, while acknowledging the human rights considerations associated with capital punishment.
President Calls for Stronger Response to Heinous Crimes
President Ali said the circumstances surrounding the child’s death had prompted renewed consideration of the penalties available under Guyana’s justice system.
He expressed support for examining the death penalty as a possible response to the most serious offences and indicated that he wanted the Attorney General to review the matter carefully.
The President also stressed that the judicial process must be allowed to take its course before any conclusions are reached about punishment in a particular case.
Attorney General Asked to Examine the Issue
According to the President, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has been asked to examine the legal and policy questions surrounding capital punishment.
The review comes amid public concern following the child’s death and renewed debate about how the justice system should respond to crimes of exceptional severity.
The President acknowledged that human rights issues must be considered alongside questions of punishment, accountability and public expectations.
No specific legislative change was announced in the statement, and the proposed examination does not itself change the existing law.
Police Investigation Into Child’s Death
Orlando Jaikarran’s body was reportedly discovered in a canal at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, early on Tuesday, October 20, after the child had been reported missing.
Police reports indicated that the child’s father, 45-year-old Bharrat Jaikarran, was in police custody and had reportedly provided information that led investigators to the body.
The circumstances surrounding the death remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings. Any allegations against the suspect must be established through the appropriate legal process.
Death Penalty Debate Returns to National Discussion
Guyana retains the death penalty in its legal framework for certain serious offences, but the country has not carried out an execution since August 1997.
President Ali’s remarks have renewed public discussion about capital punishment, the severity of criminal penalties and the relationship between justice, deterrence and human rights.
The issue involves legal, constitutional and ethical considerations, including the appropriate punishment for serious crimes and the safeguards required to protect the rights of accused persons.
The President has called for the matter to be examined further, while emphasising that the judicial process must proceed in accordance with the law.