Parliament in Jamaica has voted to keep the death penalty, as the nation struggles to contain one of the world's highest murder rates.
MPs were allowed a free vote, rather than having to vote along party lines.
Jamaica has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 1988 until the Jamaica Labour Party, which was elected last year, pushed for its return.
The BBC reports Jamaica currently has nine men on death row. There have been 1200 murders on the island to date this year.
The vote followed weeks of passionate debate. Thirty-four members of parliament voted in favour of capital punishment, 15 voted against. There were 10 abstentions.
Those opposed wanted improvements to Jamaica's police and justice system, while those in favour pointed to an ever-upward rise in violent crime.
The Jamaica Labour Party was elected with a call to resume hanging immediately.
Concerns had been raised about the risk of sanctions - primarily from the EU - but Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the law should take its course if due legal process was observed.
