By FRANCIS JOSEPH
The man who witnessed the hanging of convicted killer Dole Chadee, has died.
He is Cipriani Baptiste, then Commissioner of Prisons. Baptiste, 85, died on Thursday morning after a brief illness.
Baptiste never recovered from witnessing the execution of Chadee and eight members of his gang. Chadee was executed on June 4, 1999. Over the next two days, the eight other gang members were also executed at the Port-of-Spain State Prison.
After the hangings, Baptiste was asked about what he witnessed, the then Commissioner said it was “terrifying and frustrating”.
Right up to his retirement in 2001, Baptiste was “terrified” from the hangings. Even after retirement, Baptiste talked about his experience, having to carry out the burden as Commissioner of Police.
“A lot was put in place for these hangings. Remember who were the prisoners,” Baptiste added.
Baptiste was credited with reshaping the country’s approach to corrections.
His public service career began on November 27, 1961, and over the next four decades he rose through the ranks of the Prison Service before being appointed Commissioner of Prisons in 1993. He served as the organisation’s executive head until his retirement in 2001.
But Baptiste’s contribution to the country’s correctional system did not end with his retirement.
What were his views on murder?
He said, “”You cannot prevent murder when a person, in a fit of passion, murders someone or even a person who murders someone while trying to protect himself or his family.
“But there are those people who sit and plot to go into people’s homes and murder them; these are the crimes that should be punishable by death, and this is why we need classification.”
Baptiste said the fact people are given death sentences and are then left for years sitting on death row has not helped to deter criminals because the walk to the hangman’s noose is too long.
However, if they knew shortly after being convicted of murder they would have to pay a visit to the hangman, he thinks there will be results.
In 2002, he was appointed by the Government to chair a Cabinet-appointed task force charged with reviewing the national penal system.
The resulting 2002 Task Force Report put forward more than 40 recommendations and helped drive a major shift in the country’s correctional philosophy, moving away from an approach centred primarily on retributive punishment towards restorative justice and rehabilitation.
The Prison Service said that vision subsequently contributed to significant structural changes within the organisation.
Among the developments were the establishment of specialized units including the Psychology Department, the Programmes and Industry Unit and the Communications Department.
These units continue to play roles in inmate rehabilitation and reintegration.
Baptiste’s leadership and contribution to public service were formally recognized when he was awarded the Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold).
In announcing his passing, the Prison Service described his legacy as enduring and extended condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
The organisation said its Executive Management and staff honour Baptiste’s decades of service and expressed prayers for comfort and strength for those mourning his death.
