Lawmakers in Jamaica voted Tuesday in favour of retaining the death penalty as the ultimate punishment for certain offences.
 
 A total of 49 parliamentarians took part in the conscience vote with 35 members voting in favour and 15 voting against it. The remaining members were absent.
 
 While the death penalty remains on Jamaica’s law books, there has not been an execution here for the past two decades. The last hanging took place on February 18, 1988.
 
 However, in the wake of the country’s worsening crime problem, there have been increasing calls from various sections of the society including the Church for the resumption of hanging.
 
 Leader of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller was among the absentees as the parliamentarians declared their hand in the conscience vote on a two-tiered resolution moved by Prime Minister Bruce Golding a fortnight ago.
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