GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday described as “haphazard” the decision by President David Granger to pardon 11 women, many of whom were convicted for non-violent crimes.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, a former home affairs minister, told reporters that President Granger was abusing the pardoning process.

Speaking at the party’s weekly news conference, Rohee said convicted people should be allowed to serve their time and not just be released from prison. He also wants the president to make the criteria known to the public as to how a decision is arrived at when granting the pardons

Granger, in his weekly television programme last week, explained that he hopes to make it a tradition to pardon young women for Christmas and young men for Guyana’s Independence Day.

He said special attention is to be given to mothers.

“My emphasis is on women, women who are mothers and also parents of young children. I want them to be home for Christmas.”

The president presented the argument that the longer a person remains in prison, the higher the likelihood that the person may become a repeat offender.

“I do feel that if a person remains in jail too long, he or she will become a habitual or repetitive offender as opposed to if he was given a chance to make a turnaround in his life and follow a good career, a useful career,” he said.

However, he issued a warning, stating that pardoned persons who end up back in jail would have to stay behind bars until the end of their sentences.