Nora Parham's Posthumous Pardon

She was put to death in 1963, after a skewed justice system condemned her for the death of her abusive policeman common-law-husband. Now, on the occasion of International Women's Day, Cabinet has announced that Nora Parham – the only woman to ever be sentenced and put to death in Belize - be given a posthumous pardon to, (quote) "correct a historic wrong", (unquote). Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia had proposed at the last House Meeting, that the late Ms. Parham be considered for the pardon. A release from the Government Press Office today states that Cabinet is of the view that the pardon will help to play a meaningful role on the focus we place on matters of domestic violence. Governor General, Froyla Tzalam will be asked to take the recommendation to the Belize Advisory Council for consideration. While the pardon can do nothing to bring Nora Parham back, it is hoped that it will serve to offer her family some consolation for a crime she was convicted of and made to pay the ultimate price, despite the fact that her trial, conviction, and sentence were widely thought to be unfair. News Five spoke with Minister Balderamos-Garcia via zoom.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

"I think the begging of it is, on the fourth of February I raised in the House of Representatives, at the time we moved the motion against domestic violence, which received the unanimous support of the House. At that time when I moved the motion, I did raise that issue of the possibility of the granting of a posthumous pardon to Nora Parham, to as a put it, right a historic wrong and correct a stain on our history. Now, please let me clarify, on Friday last Cabinet gave its approval or its support to the proposal that we will need to send to the Governor General and the Belize Advisory Council. So, I wouldn't call it a decision as yet. Of course, the decision of Cabinet is to lend its support and to move the process forward. So, if you look at section fifty two of the constitution, as our Attorney General has advised, the prerogative of mercy is in the hands of the Governor General who may grant a pardon. And then, the section fifty two of the constitution goes on to say that the prerogative of mercy and the pardon will be exercised on the advice of the Belize Advisory Council. So, just to make it abundantly clear, Cabinet has not taken the decision. We have to put it to the Governor General, who will put it then to the Belize Advisory Council for its advice and recommendation, and then we are hoping the process can be completed. But I must tell you how trilled we are that this news is coming out today, which is International Women's Day. I think this is really a mark of history. It is a thrill, not only for the women of Belize but all Belizeans."

Nora Parham, "Correcting the Historic Wrong"

As to the historic wrong that Cabinet is seeking to correct, Minister Garcia says no right thinking member of society today would have wished for Ms. Parham to be convicted. Minister Garcia contends that a decision today would have seen a different outcome.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

"First of all, even if Ms. Parham had been guilty of the crime she was accused of, still the judge at the time, as well as jury members at the time who were all men; they recommended what you would call clemency. But, you know, when you look at the facts of the case as reported, and please none of us were there in the court room back in 1963, but when you look at what is reported to have happened, I don't believe that right thinking members of society today would have wished for Ms. Parham to have been convicted. And, we know as a matter of history that thousands of people wished for her to be given clemency at the time. Unfortunately, it was a colonial government administration under the Governor Sir Peter Stallard and despite all the pleas for clemency, those pleas were turned down and Ms. Parham was sent to hang. So, the wrong I think was that when we look at the horrible domestic violence that Ms. Parham suffered, when we look at all of that, I believe that today a decision could have been different. We cannot bring back Ms. Parham, but what we can do is write a wrong in the best way we can at this time."

Channel 5