Eleven women, many of whom were convicted for non-violent crimes, have been pardoned by Guyana’s President David Granger and are scheduled to be released from prison today.
Granger, in his weekly television programme, explained that he hopes to make it a tradition to pardon young women for Christmas and young men for Guyana’s Independence. He said special attention is to be given to mothers.
The President presented the argument that the longer a person remains in prison, the higher the likelihood that the person may become a repeated offender.
However, he issued a warning, stating that pardoned persons who end up in jail would have to stay behind bars until the end of their sentences.
Granger said a pardon is granted on the advice from the Ministry of Public Security and so his decision is “not arbitrary.”
