HAWKS and doves are lining up to vote today on whether persons convicted of capital murder should hang.

After two postponements, the vote is scheduled to take place today in Gordon House and, unless something dramatic has occurred since last Wednesday's sitting of the House of Representatives, capital punishment will remain on the country's books.

Free from the party whip, members of parliament have made their stance known and are now huddled in their corners, waiting to decide the hangman's fate.

Some quotable quotes from the debate

Dr Peter Phillips

Phillips

A growing section of this society has in effect declared war on the society. We may say we can defeat them by killing them, but the fact is that we keep reproducing the conditions which create these people who reject the society.

Peart

Michael Peart - It would be frustrating for me to participate in this debate, participate in the vote and next week, next month, next year, things go just the same.

Michael Stern - I believe that the criminal is driving fear in us and it's about time we drive fear in the criminals. When a country is come upon by war they fight ... they act in the best interest to protect their citizens.

Samuda

Karl Samuda - The Church itself is divided on this issue. And I don't really appreciate those who are parading the virtues of the Bible and the teachings of the Bible and the virtues of the Church before us and using on a shield the notion that it is ungodly to take a life that you did not create.

Pearnel Charles - They are waiting outside with the chalice pipe to celebrate that the leaders of this country say they can no longer be hanged.

Don't hang them? ... You want us to spend $700,000 to feed them at Horizon hotel; feed them for life?

They want television, three meals a day and if you don't let them wife in to carry dem food, dem strike.

I got some letter from president (Archbishop Desmond) Tutu. I have the greatest of respect for President Tutu (oh, archbishop) but I would say to archbishop, in our jurisdiction we have some terrible men. We have some men, if they catch those who are fighting for them, they are in trouble.

If my constituents direct me to vote against this, I resign tomorrow.

Dr Omar Davies - I see where some people are giving us advice, telling us how to vote. Let me tell them, I respect your views but please don't lecture us ... As Bob Marley said, 'Don't talk to me as if I am dumb'.

Montague

Robert Montague - We have moved away from some of the harsher punishments and the crimes get more horrendous. The cat-o-nine needs to be reintroduced. I also believe we need to harm the society. ... What next are we going to be asking for, no hanging, then five year's time no life sentence, then no 20-year (sentence), then no prison? The Good Book says 'Vengeance is mine, said the Lord', and I believe that we should leave vengeance to the Lord and we hang the criminals.

Clarke

Roger Clarke - I have consulted with my constituency. They have given me some recommen-dations. ... Some say we must put them before firing squad ... tie metal on dem and carry dem out inna the sea and drown dem ... some of them want to carry dem up in the air and drop dem from helicopter ... at the end of it, they say death.

Andrew Gallimore - There is no member in this House who has held a referendum in their constituency who can reflect that the view that they have expressed here as being representative of their constituents is actually so.

It is somewhat disheartening to know that having this debate will really not change any view. Persons, it seems, have come with a predetermined view that is uninformed and is not guided by scientific reasoning or fact. Having listened to so many presentations, I am yet to see what persons in support of the retention hope to achieve.

Hawks

Roger Clarke

Robert Montague

Ian Hayles

Laurie Broderick

Dr Omar Davies

Michael Stern

Daryl Vaz

Audley Shaw

Noel Arscott

Franklin Witter

Dr St Aubyn Bartlett

Joseph Hibbert

Mike Henry

Pearnel Charles

Robert Pickersgill

Patrick Harris

Ernest Smith

Michael Peart

Karl Samuda

Dr Morais Guy

Dr Fenton Ferguson

Othneil Lawrence

Tarn Peralto

Dr Christopher Tufton

James Robertson

Anthony Hylton

Dr Ken Baugh

Derrick Kellier

Colin Fagan

Doves

Phillip Paulwell

Ronald Thwaites

Peter Bunting

Everald Warmington

Dr Horace Chang

Gregory Mair

Dr D.K. Duncan

Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert

Andrew Gallimore

Dr Peter Phillips

Fitz Jackson

Maxine Henry-Wilson

Andrew Holness

Not clear

Bruce Golding

Dean Peart

Kern Spencer

Portia Simpson Miller

Lisa Hanna

J.C. Hutchinson

Dr Donald Rhodd

Luther Buchanan

Dr Wykeham McNeill

Olivia Grange

Shahine Robinson

Derrick Smith

Clive Mullings