The two inmates who became the island’s first felons to appear before a parole board have been granted their freedom.
The historic achievement lauded as a significant accomplishment demonstrating fundamentally that social justice and Human Rights is high on the national radar, comes as the Saint Lucia and the world celebrated Human Rights Day focused on the theme “Recover better, stand-up for Human Rights”.
The two male inmates who served over 20 years of their sentences for Murder, had their cases heard before the seven (7) member Parole Board.
National Security Minister Hon. Hermangild Francis speaking ahead of the hearing referred to the system as “an example of restorative justice where persons are given the chance to restore their lives after time spent serving their custodial sentences.”
For an inmate to apply for parole, certain requirements must be fulfilled including an assessment and evaluation of the individual by a forensic pathologist contracted by government.
As per legislature, the identity of the parolees was not made public.
Now that a door has been opened, is it that door, which is opened and no one can
close and hopefully at some point, we are to wish that it should have been a door
such that when closed, should not be opened by any means unnecessarily, unless
by death, severe illness or perhaps at an advanced old age. Applicable only to some.