Advisory Committee on prerogative of Mercy advises release of prison

St. George's, Grenada, Thursday, September 4th, 2009: On Friday September 4^th, 2009, the Minister responsible for the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, pursuant to her powers under Sections 72-74 of the Constitution of Grenada, advised his Excellency the Governor General, to remit the remainder of the sentences of 14 prison inmates and thereby effect their release from incarceration.

The names of the persons affected are:

Winston Antoine,  Dave Bartholomew, Callistus Bernard, Bernard Coard, Leon Cornwall, Liam James, Michael Jeffrey, Ewart Layne, Michael Louison, Keston Mc Queen, Ms Hilary Ogilvie, Joseph Paul,  Selwyn Strachan, Kevin Taylor.

These inmates have been prison for periods ranging from 5 to approximately 26 years.

The advice of the minister represents the final act in the review process provided for under Grenadian law, specifically the Prison Rules. In the case of the seven prisoners referred to as the Grenada 17, imprisoned since 1983, the review of their sentences was also in keeping with a court order, arising out of the resentencing hearing in June 2007, for their sentences to be reviewed within 2 years. Without that review order from the court, their sentences would have expired within one year.

The review process commenced in January 2009 with the submission of reports by the prison authorities on the conduct, attitude, industry and other relevant matters, of all inmates who had served beyond 4 years of their sentences. The reports were considered by the Board of Review which also carried out interviews with the prisoners and instituted its own background checks and investigations.

A total of 42 inmates had their sentences reviewed. At the completion of its work, as is required by law, the Board of Review presented its findings and recommendations to the minister of national security who, in the exercise of his discretion, forwarded the recommendations of the Board for action by the Minister Responsible for the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

The five member Board of Review was constituted in August of 2007 under the previous administration, following severe criticisms from the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council regarding non-compliance with the law requiring the establishment and functioning of a board to review the sentences of long term prisoners. Following the change in administration in July 2008, the only change in its composition, was the appointment of the Hon. Karl I. Hood as Chairman.

The Board will continue to review the sentences of long term prisoners in accordance with the law.