Gov’t to approach Parliament for funds to finance Commission of Inquiry

Georgetown, GINA, August 3, 2012 -- Source

President Donald Ramotar remains committed to meeting with the people of Linden in light of the fatal shootings of three protestors; unfortunately, the atmosphere that has pervaded since July 18 has not changed to make such an interaction conducive and appropriate.  

This is according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who was at the time speaking on a special programme with Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster on the National Communications Network (NCN) today.

Linden Situation
There have been continuous engagements among Government and a delegation representing the people of Linden and various other stakeholders including representatives of the private sector and other interest groups who are negotiating various proposals.    

However, while the modalities are being worked out, the situation on the ground remains largely the same in the sense that the roads and bridges remain blocked. As a result, there is great difficulty for people to access the interior regions (especially Regions Eight and Nine) via Linden.

“Businesses remain closed, hospitals and other health facilities remain affected and the climate in Linden remains one that is unstable, vital food and other supplies are rapidly running out to the detriment of the very people of Linden, some of whom are engaged in blocking ingress and egress in Linden,” Minister Nandlall lamented.

Government has agreed to put on hold the increase in electricity tariffs, which is the issue that started the demonstrations.

The new tariff structure which was slated to take effect on July 1 would have seen residents paying the existing rates for the first 50 KwH and $50 per KwH for what is used above that limit. Elsewhere, consumers pay $65 KwH.

The Administration has since given a commitment to review the new tariff structure and this will be worked out by a technical team that will be agreed upon by the Government and representatives of the people of Linden.

“This is an ongoing process; a meeting is scheduled for today…in light of all these engagements, one would have expected that at a minimum, there would have been some restoration to normalcy. Unfortunately that has not been the case and we have to continue to grapple to deal with the instability that is talking place in Linden,” the AG said.

 
He pointed out too, that the most important point is that the people would suffer the most from the damage which is being done on the ground to the economic welfare and the image of Linden as an investment destination.
Meanwhile, Minister Webster said the onus is on the leaders, irrespective of political affiliation, to ensure that the right steps are taken in the decision-making process in the interest of the country’s development.

She said that the adverse effects of the Linden situation can be seen and felt, especially by those living there as many economic activities have come to a stand-still. The banks were closed, the hospital was running out of medical supplies and many other vital services are not readily accessible to residents there.

“We need to look at making timely decisions, because the longer we take to agree on the way forward for Linden, then the recovery of that community will take a longer time…quite recently, one businessman indicated that he was going to close down his business establishment for good and if that happens then a number of people stand to lose their jobs. This is not the sort of scenario that we want for Linden,” Minister Webster said.

Commission of Inquiry and Terms of Reference
Since the fatal shooting of the three protestors, President Donald Ramotar met with the Opposition and an agreement was reached to establish a Commission of Inquiry which will launch an investigation into the matter.

     
Substantial progress has since been made with regards to the drafting of the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the Commission. Minister Nandlall said that so far, this has been a highly engaging and consultative process, of which he was apart.

The TORs deals with the situation on the ground before July 18, composition of the units that were deployed to Linden, issues that the police were confronted with at the time, who were on the ground mobilising and leading the protestors, damage done to property, compensation for the people that were killed and injured, and the role, if any, of the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee in the actions that were taken by the police.

“The Commission of Inquiry’s TORs, which have been agreed upon are commendable wide and embracing; it encompasses all the issues that would arise,” Minister Nandlall said.

Government is in the process of trying to recruit suitable personnel, including international presence, to preside over and sit on the Commission. Moreover, the Finance Minister will have to approach the Parliament to seek approval for funds to be taken from the Consolidated Fund to finance this exercise, which is going to be a very expensive one.

At the August 2 sitting of the National Assembly, an announcement was made of the TORs, which were drafted by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and APNU member, Joseph Harmon.

Responding to the Opposition’s claim that the TORs was just a unilateral draft in which they had no input, the AG disclosed that around 10:00h on August 2, the final revised draft was emailed to them; however they didn’t respond.

“We cannot hold this process up because of their non-response, especially in light of the fact that AFC member, Cathy Hughes is on record saying that we are dilating this process and that we should accelerate it. Here it is that we are accelerating the process and the very AFC members who are not responding to the several drafts that are being sent to them, stood in the Parliament and said that they are unaware,” he explained.

No Confidence Motion
With regards to the Motion of No Confidence that was moved by Leader of the Opposition, David Granger and adopted by the House, Minister Nandlall said that no sooner than the agreement was made to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the matter, this Motion surfaced, which seeks to indict by every allegation of wrongdoing that has been purported.

He reiterated that, “there is no power in the Parliament to move such a Motion against a Minister. Parliament speaks to a No Confidence Motion in relation to one elected official and that is the Leader of the Opposition…we live in a constitutional democracy and every time the Constitution speaks to an issue that is what we must regulate our conduct by.”