Walter Rodney Inquiry…Public hearings to begin day after Easter Monday
- Chairman
CHAIRMAN of the International Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the death of Guyanese politician/historian, Dr. Walter Rodney, Sir Richard Cheltenham announced, yesterday, that public hearings will begin on the Tuesday after Easter Monday.
Sir Richard Cheltenham, Chairman of the COI, speaking at the press conference.
Then the sessions will continue for nine working days before a two week break, he told a press conference at the Georgetown Supreme Court premises.
“Rest assured that the Commission will go to every reasonable and realistic length to get to the bottom of this. Every document that is available, we will seek to access; we are not here to do a whitewash job; we have our integrity and reputation to maintain and wherever the evidence leads we will follow,” the Chairman pledged.
He said the media engagement was to give an update on the process as well as put to rest issues surrounding one of the Commissioners, Senior Counsel Seenauth Jairam and the COI’s Terms of Reference (TORs) among others.
The Chairman reported that “the Commissioners have, recently, been trying to build support for the work that will formally commence shortly.”
In this regard, he said there were meetings with the Commissioner of Police, Army Chief, political parties, National Assembly Speaker, Private Sector Commission, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and trade unions, amongst more stakeholders.
Sir Richard said the lawyers attached to the Commission, who include Mr. Glen Hanoman, Ms. Latchmie Rahamat and Ms. Nicola Pierre, are currently helping witnesses to put their statements together in an orderly and relevant fashion.
The Commissioners are also, presently, awaiting the accumulation of enough “fuel to sustain the engines of the Commission once it starts running” when the attorneys will then lead evidence.
Bring closure
“We want to know how, why, who is involved and the motivation for this involvement to bring closure to this unsolved incident and we understand the public disquiet and concern,” the Chairman explained.
He disclosed that Walter’s brother, Donald Rodney, who was with him at the time of the deadly explosion that claimed the life of the former, has also indicated his willingness to testify.
Sir Richard assured that anyone who is willing to give testimony should not be afraid to come forward, as the TOR guarantees absolute pardon and protection of identity.
He pointed out that the deceased was no ordinary citizen, adding that his death dates back over 33 years ago and pondered on the prospect of evidential material and the value of a COI now.
Sir Richard also warned that anyone who attempts to mislead the COI intentionally can be prosecuted.
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and, by extension, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has expressed its concern that Jairam, who previously worked briefly with the Government, may be in a conflict of interest situation.
L-R: Nicola Pierre , Glen Hanoman, Senior Counsel Seenauth Jairam, Chairman Sir Richard Cheltenham, Queen’s Counsel Jacquelene Samuels- Brown and Latchmie Rahamat
But, when asked to comment on that, the Chairman said: “I believe the Attorney General has dealt with that and I would not want to add. Besides I do not see how working for the Government in the past could affect the work of the Commission. The issue has no length, it simply has no walking capacity. I don’t understand how one can draw the inference of bias.”
Sir Richard remarked that, in relation to concerns regarding the TORs, those should be raised with the relevant authorities.
He has given the Commission’s commitment, nonetheless, to ensure closure is brought for the relatives of the deceased.
President Donald Ramotar had agreed, in June 2013, to establish the COI following a request from the Rodney family after a previous inquiry ordered by former President Desmond Hoyte, in 1988, found that the historian/politician’s demise was caused by an ‘accident or misadventure’ and that met with grave disbelief.
Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980, when a bomb exploded in the car in which he was travelling. He was 38 years old at the time.
After his assassination, he received several honours posthumously, among them, in 1993, the Government of Dr. Cheddi Jagan conferred on him the country’s highest National Award, the Order of Excellence (OE) and the Walter Rodney Chair in History was created at the University of Guyana.
By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally