Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry…-COI Chairman totally surprised at Chronicle newspaper article

By Latoya Giles 
Chairman of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, Sir Richard Cheltenham, said that he was “totally” surprised by an article and headline which was carried by the state run newspaper the “Guyana Chronicle”.
The Chairman’s remark was subsequent to a brief address by Attorney at Law, Basil Williams, who brought up the issue.
Williams said that he must “tender” an apology for the article which was incorrect and which was published on Thursday last.
Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham said yesterday, that the media must be “careful”. He said that the press must not seek to be sensational in reporting, but just stick to what happened at the commission. Cheltenham further stressed that he hopes that the Editor takes note of the correction and does something about it.
Williams, who is watching the interest for the People’s National Congress, on Wednesday morning, raised the issues about the fact that he thought there was a suspension of the Laws of Guyana and so allowed evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible in a local Court.
However, Commissioner Seenath Jairam told Williams that the notion of the laws of Guyana being suspended was false.
The Chronicle however reported that “Williams was upbraided by the commission for his baseless objections,” something that never happened.
Williams sits on the legal team representing the People’s National Congress interest in the COI into the 1980 death of Dr. Walter Rodney.
Williams raised the objection while the Commission was admitting into evidence two books from Reverend Reuben Gilbert, none of which was authored by him. One of them was published in 1990.
According to Williams, the investigation into Rodney’s death was a serious one and such evidence should not be allowed since it has the potential to tarnish the reputation of individuals and organization and may not necessarily be true.
He cautioned the Commission to ensure that it is aware of the politically charged atmosphere in which the hearings were being conducted.
Rodney died following an explosion in 1980.
After his death, Rodney received several honours. In 1993, the Government of Dr. Cheddi Jagan gave him the country’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence posthumously, and the Walter Rodney Chair in History was established at the University of Guyana.
Rodney had traveled widely and became very well known internationally as an activist, scholar and formidable orator.
He taught at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania during the period 1966-67 and later in Jamaica, at his alma mater, UWI Mona. He was sharply critical of the middle class for its role in the post-independence Caribbean.