Minister Tommy Turnquest (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

Bahamas Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest defended the London-based Privy Council, the Bahamas’ final court of appeal yesterday, arguing that the court was not an obstacle to the death penalty as it had been portrayed. “While members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council may have views against the death penalty, their judgments have essentially been more about process than about the penalty itself,” he said. “And that process itself has had a number of landmark rulings.” The procedural rulings have included the requirement that cases be tried within a reasonable, five-year period, and that conviction and sentencing cannot occur simultaneously. “The Bahamas has decided for very good reasons not to do away with the Privy Council.” [Nassau Tribune]