Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry…Witness question authenticity of documents tendered
By Latoya Giles
Several documents which have been tendered to the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry appear to have been forged. One of the documents is an “account form” which Major General Norman McLean was questioned about on Thursday when he was giving evidence.
The document which allegedly shows the movement of several high profile weapons from the Guyana Defence Force to the People’s National Congress and ultimately to the House of Israel religious group, has raised eyebrows. 
The signature attached to the document was that of former Army Major Godwin McPherson. McPherson died several years ago.
McLean, after seeing that document had immediately asked that a “handwriting” expert be summoned to determine its authenticity. Yesterday Kaieteur News managed to get a copy of the “account form” which was tendered. The document was part of a police file which was submitted by Crime Chief, Leslie James.
The document which is dated June 24, 1979 claims that the army handed over 19, G3 Rifles, 19, G3 Bayonett snipers, 1500 rounds of, 7.62 ammunition, ten browning pistols and 500 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
These items according to the document were chargeable to the PNC for the House of Israel. However several sources close to the now dead Mc Pherson are refuting that he signed the document and have produced other documents purportedly signed by him on which the signature is different.
This has now caused some amount of concern about whether the documents have been willfully submitted to the Commission to publicly embarrass the officer and his family. This has also brought into question the authenticity of other documents which have been provided to the Commission by the police.
On Thursday, Major General McLean said that he was familiar with the signature of the late army officer and denied that the signature attached to a document shown to him was that of McPherson’s.
McLean immediately asked that the Commission summon a handwriting expert to determine the authenticity of the document.
McLean was also shown a payroll document with the name “Smith” attached to it. That document was dated May 24, 1979.
According to McLean, the document speaks directly to something that looks as though it was “cut and pasted”. McLean again said that the payroll document failed to state who collected salaries and was devoid of signatures.
Lawyer for the Commission, Glenn Hanoman, claimed that the “payroll” document was acquired from the GDF and said it is his intention to call the officer who supplied the documents at a later date to testify.
PNC lead counsel Attorney at Law Basil Williams and Guyana Trades Union lawyer Selwyn Pieters had argued on Thursday that the Commission should make available, original documents and witnesses’ statements.
Pieters questioned why documents relevant to Walter Rodney’s death were not in the Commission’s possession before witnesses were called.
According to Pieters, all the relevant documents should have been handed over to the Commission in all fairness to witnesses. As such, Pieters suggested that McLean should not be questioned further on army records since the original documents weren’t presented.
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